I posed this question to women: “What is the difference between not allowing yourself to eat any ice cream and eating a ½ gallon of ice cream?” I received a lot of great answers that were related to calories, portion control and healthy eating.  But I wanted you to look deeper and find the emotional issue pertaining to this question.  The answer might surprise you:  There is really no difference at all between the two choices!

  Both choices reflect someone who does not feel in control of their eating.  Completely depriving yourself of ice cream says “Ice cream is a dangerous food that could cause me to utterly lose control. I have no power over ice cream.”  Can you see how this is not too far off from  “Ice cream is a dangerous food that could cause me to utterly lose control. Since ice cream is bad – then I am bad for eating it.  If I’m going to be bad I might as well go all the way and eat the whole thing.  I have no power over ice cream”?

  For some women, even a scoop of ice cream cannot be enjoyed.  It is a food that we are not supposed to eat, let alone enjoy, right? You are afraid to eat for the fear that binging might be around the corner.  I see this as just another DIETING mentality that says that I am afraid of myself.  I cannot trust myself to make positive and healthy decisions for my life that revolve around food. Whether you eat a scoop or the 1/2 gallon the thought process is the same, “I did something wrong.  Losing control is to be expected with bad foods.  Eat it all.  I will start over again tomorrow.” This can make some women go into a full blown binge.

  Most of us don’t believe that we are more powerful than food.  Until you claim that power and make decisions based on that belief, then you will continue the cycle of allowing food to have power to harm you.  Personal power is the best answer to the fear of food.  Once you stop the negative thoughts towards food you will allow yourself the freedom to relax. It is only then you can truly say to yourself that I can have ice cream as a treat when I want to and maybe then you will find you don’t have to have it.  Food is here for our nourishment and, yes, enjoyment.  You have the power.  Not a cookie or an ice cream cone.  Once you gain the attitude that I am in charge, you truly will be.

Morning –
I was at a networking breakfast.
- porridge
- 2 glasses of fruit juice (only realized it was from concentrate after someone pointed it out!!!)
- 1/4 of pineapple
- 1/2 cup of coffee (no sweeteners this time)

Mid-Morning –
- 1 apple
- 1 glass of water

Lunch –
I was at another networking meeting today and lunch was included. Oh lord! There was nothing remotely healthy on the menu. The only good news was there was small portions.
- Crab cakes (I didn’t realise these were fried and there was only a smidgen of salad) *groan*
- 1 glass of water
- 1/2 cup of coffee no sweeteners

Mid-afternoon –
- 1 glass of water.

Evening –
- Small jacket potato, tuna with lo-mayo
- 1 cup of green tea
- 1 glass of water

Not enough water today – too much junk. But I’m still maintaining what I’ve lost.

I need to get my head around these meetings where lunch and breakfast are included.


Exercise

After I attended my last network meeting today I did something to my neck. I couldn’t move it to the right. A nerve is trapped I think. I hope it’s better in the morning. I just want to swim to ease in and try and do the low impact exercises Ernie gave me yesterday.

P.S. To follow Vanessa’s thoughts and feelings along her journey go to http://vanessareece.com/category/wellbeing/

Morning –
- apple
- Glass of water

Mid-Morning –
- small bowl of muesli
- 1 glass of water

Lunch –
- baked potato sweetcorn and tuna with lo-mayo
- 1 small bottle of water

Mid-afternoon –
- 1 orange
- 1 small bottle of water

Evening –
- Small bowl of vegetable Chili
- 1/2 cup of coffee
- handful of grapes
- 2 glasses of water


Exercise
Today my trainer, Ernie Boxall came over. This was his second visit an he switched up my routine to add more core strength training. I’m not going to lie it was tough but he’s very encouraging. He got me to the right place mentally and physically so I could focus and work out well.

He also gave me some exercises to do at home.

I think everyone needs someone to push them a bit. We don’t realize how much more we can achieve when we have someone to push us and encourage us.

P.S. To follow Vanessa’s thoughts and feelings along her journey go to http://vanessareece.com/category/wellbeing/

As a young girl, teen and for part of my adult life, I spent years on and off diets. Dieting consumed me and the more weight I lost the more I gained next time around. The cycle was vicious and had complete control over me because I did not know any better. It was drilled into my head day after day that I was too big and fat and not valued because of my size. People made fun of me and the kids in school were so mean and cruel. I felt horrible most of the time and my life was consumed with LOSING WEIGHT.

I was on every Diet known to mankind and my family tried everything including wiring my jaws shut. After feeling so lonely, depressed and realizing that my life was spiraling downward it was time to fight back. I was losing the battle so I had nothing to lose and everything to gain at that point. I began to take matters into my own hands; I began to exercise, move and breathe. With the help of some fitness center owners, I started to feel better. They helped me to stay focused on exercising daily and not giving up when I wanted to. I began to cut my food in ½ and that combination began to take the pounds off. Little did I know that that would be the turning point in my life.

By learning to eat and exercise for my health and stop focusing on losing weight I experienced the begin of the journey of a lifetime. I began to realize that all of the past did not matter, what mattered was the direction I was headed in, walking through a storm to get to the rainbow. I thought about that every day and made it my mantra. There were days I fell down, cried for hours, wanted to give up, hated everyone and doubted my strength but I kept going forward. I was so determined to get this done and live a healthy life that everything else seemed to fall by the wayside. I became so committed to getting this done and never did I realize that it would become my life’s passion and journey to helping others to change their lives.

If I could give anyone any advice, it is this:

~ First, make the commitment to your cause and that is you. Doing it half way will you get half the results and we have all been there before.

~ Next, get rid of your past thinking and renew your mind to what you need to get done. Doing this will require a lot of self-talking and meditating on yourself.

~ Lastly, YOU WILL BE CHALLENGED, YOU WILL FALL DOWN, YOU WILL WANT TO GIVE UP, YOU WILL HAVE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND PEOPLE WILL GIVE UP ON YOU, however YOU CAN NEVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF! YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PUZZLE. KEEP ON MOVING FORWARD, GET READY FOR THE RIDE and BY ALL MEANS ENJOY THE SUCCESS!

Debra Mazda

Morning –
- apple
- Fresh Banana in protein shake with semi-skimmed milk

Mid-Morning –
-  large Iced fruit tea

Lunch –
- 1 slice of beef with horseradish on granary bread with salad and potatoes
- 1  glass of water

Mid-afternoon –
- 1 Apple
- Handful of grapes
- 1 small bottle of water

Evening –
- Vegetable Chili and sprinkle of grated cheese
- 1 bottle of water
- 1/2 cup of coffee – two sweeteners


Exercise
I had a full day out so my exercise was walking – a lot.

P.S. To follow Vanessa’s thoughts and feelings along her journey go to http://vanessareece.com/category/wellbeing/

Morning –
- Apple
- 1/2 fresh Pineapple
- 1/2 Protein Bar
- Glass of water

Mid-Morning –
- 1/2 Protein Bar
- 2 large bottles of water (with my work out)

Lunch –
- Tofu and egg with spices and seeds (only could manage 1/4 of this)
- 1  glass of cranberry juice

Mid-afternoon –
- Handful of Grapes
- 1 glass of cranberry juice

Evening –
- Potato and tuna bake with low fat beans and beetroot (sounds disgusting but it was lovely) Home made
- Handful of grapes
- 1 glass of water
- 1 cup of coffee two sweeteners


Exercise

After yesterday’s faux pas I was determined to have a really good workout at the gym. I did 25 minutes on the bike which burned off 300kcal and then I did two circuits with the different weight machines. I did two minutes intense rowing on the rowing machine. I then did some core and ab work on the mat. I felt it!

Finished off with an hour’s worth of swimming (no stopping breast stroke) I loved it.

I felt fantastic. Much much better than yesterday and no cravings what so ever.

P.S. To follow Vanessa’s thoughts and feelings along her journey go to http://vanessareece.com/category/wellbeing/

Morning –
- Apple
- Glass of water

Mid-Morning –
- nothing – bad move!

Lunch –
- chicken sandwich on malt bread
- 1  glass of fresh orange juice

Mid-afternoon –
- Sardines and brown rice
- 1 small bottle of water

Evening –
- fruit salad
- chocolate bar!!!
- 1 bottle of pear cider!!!
- 2 Glasses of water


Exercise Today was the worst day of my journey so far. I succumbed to pre-monthly time chocolate and cider fix.

I missed swimming because I was out all day with my son. No one could decide what they wanted to eat hence the snacking in the morning until mid-afternoon.

My water intake was terrible too.

I generally felt blah. However I this feeling helped because this reminded me of how I felt 9 times out of ten before this journey began.

P.S. To follow Vanessa’s thoughts and feelings along her journey go to http://vanessareece.com/category/wellbeing/

Morning –
- Muesli
- 1 pear
- Glass of water

Mid-Morning –
- 1 apple
- 1 banana
- 2 skinny latte
- 1 glass of water

Lunch –
- sardines and tofu with mixed seeds
- 1 bottle of water
- slice of melon

Mid-afternoon –
- 1 bottle of water

Evening –
- spicy turkey and broccoli (home made – cayenne pepper and other spices ooh it was hot) 
- 1 large bottle of water (due to the dish above being really hot)
- 1 pear


Exercise
Lots of walking and hard core cleaning. Some people won’t see that as exercise but honestly if you’re cleaning several high windows  around your home that’s working up a sweat. I was exhausted!

P.S. To follow Vanessa’s thoughts and feelings along her journey go to http://vanessareece.com/category/wellbeing/

Morning –
- Museli
- Glass of  cranberry juice
- Glass of water

Mid-Morning –
- 1 banana
- 1 Apple
- 2 small bottles of water

Lunch –
- Baked potato and tuna with tomato and cucumber
- 1 pear
- 1 Glass of cranberry juice
- 1 Glass of water

Mid-afternoon –
- 1/4 melon
- handful of mixed seeds
- handful of red seedless grapes
- 1 cup of green tea

Evening –
- Grilled chicken and salad
- 2 slices of cheese and tomato pizza (yes you read that correctly - that was my monthly treat and I loved every minute of eating it. It’s amazing how we savour things when we have them strictly as treats)
- 1 pear
- 1 Cup of Green Tea
- 1 glass of  water


Exercise
I’ve lost another 2 lbs this week making my total loss 11lbs since I started a month ago. I’m still going strong although I’m desperate to find some new recipes.

I’m also at a point where I’m not feeling like eating – which brings into play that I have to actually eat so my body doesn’t hold onto the fat (because it can go into starvation mode apparently).

It’s tough! I enjoy food but finding having to eat at certain times a pain and inconvenience when I really want to get on with other things. I wasn’t expecting that.

My exercise for today was 2 circuits of weight training (where I upped my arm weights) and 15 minutes on the bike with 1 hour swimming. I can’t get enough of swimming right now. I’m really loving it. My size 20 swimsuit is now gaping in various areas which led to a hilarious ‘Oh no’, moment when my puppies almost fell out of the top.

I’m resisting the urge to buy anything new until I’ve got near to my goal – but the swimsuit may have to be an exception as well as the workout leggings I wear. They are gaping too!

P.S. To follow Vanessa’s thoughts and feelings along her journey go to http://vanessareece.com/category/wellbeing/

Morning –
- Yogurt, muesli, with banana
- Glass of cranberry juice (no sugar)
- Glass of water

Mid-Morning –
- Handful mixed seeds
- 1 pear
- 1 glass of water

Lunch –
- stir fry turkey pieces with mixed nuts and tofu
- 1 cup of Green Tea
- 1 glass of water

Mid-afternoon –
- 1 large bottle of water
- 1 pear

Evening –
- Baked potato and tuna (1 tablespoon lo-fat mayo) fresh tomato and cucumber
- 1 Apple
- 1 banana
- 1 pear
- 1 glass of  cranberry juice
- 1 cup of green tea


Exercise
Rest day from gym. I did go out for a 30 minute walk though.

P.S. To follow Vanessa’s thoughts and feelings along her journey go to http://vanessareece.com/category/wellbeing/