September 2009 Archives

Everyone measures success differently. Some people measure it by how much money they make, some by their career path and their titles, some by a successful marriage, some by how pretty or thin they might be. Others measure it by the size of their house, the kind of car they have and/or the number of cars. Some even measure their success by the number of bathrooms they have in their house! (True. I knew someone who was exceedingly proud, because there were 4.5 bathrooms in her house.)

When we were teenagers, we measured success by the friends we had. Did we hang with the 'in-crowd?' Or were we losers!!?!

The truth of the matter is that success cannot be measured by material things, nor can it be measured by fame, fortune or dress size. It is an internal job; it is a state of mind. It's based on your values. If you are living a life that is in alignment with your values for are more likely to feel successful, and if you feel successful than you are successful.

As Anna Quindlen, author and journalist says, "If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all."

In order to experience success, you do need to know where you are headed, and what success will look like. After all, if you don't know where you are headed, how will you know when you've arrived?

mentalCISE: A mental exercise from Our Lady of Weight Loss!

By starting with a clear definition of what success looks, we have a compass by which to measure their success. Here are some questions that will help you define success and set you in the right direction.

Fill in the blank:

"You are going to feel success when you ________________."

"Think of how great you'll feel when you _______________."

"It's easy to experience success, when _________________, isn't it?"

One of the things you're really going to love about being successful is

_______________________________.

Imagine how great you'll feel when you _________________.

When you really begin to feel successful, then you ________

_____________________________________________.

When you really begin to feel successful, then you _________.

People can be successful because _____________________.

More food for thought:
Live Free or Die: Coach Yourself Happy
Diets Don't Work: Transformational Journeys Do!
Bob Greene: I have 5 FAT BURNING Questions for You!

Spread the word ... NOT the icing,
Janice

For a free Weight Loss Coaching consult, write Janice!
____________________________________

Follow Janice on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Required Reading:Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings from the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal an OPRAH BOOK CLUB pick: Summer 2009 - Buy NOW!

Join the Our Lady of Weight Loss's Kick in the Tush Club: Beliefnet Chapter.

Write Janice Taylor, Weight Loss Coach, Certified Hypnotist, Author and 50-pound big-time-loser for an introductory one-on-one coaching session.

Visit: www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com
www.JaniceTaylorLiving.com

Visit Our Lady of Weight Loss.
about Janice

I know from first hand experience that depression can move someone toward food. (Yes, this 'happy idiot' has had bouts of depression.) And I know - again from first hand experience - that 'eating for depression' is counter-productive and counter-intuitive.

Gaining weight only serves to intensity the depression and add to feelings of worthlessness. At this juncture, people often turn towards antidepressants to lift their moods. While I am not against antidepressants and have seen them do good for many, I am wondering if we might first incorporate some 'happiness' strategies into our lives.

Our Lady of Weight Loss's
Top Eleven Enthusiastic and Enlivening Ways to Move Past Depression and Straight Into the "Lite"

1. Sleep. Lack of sleep magnifies the effects of depression. Log in 6 to 8 hours each night, and try 15 - 30 minute catnaps throughout the day. Feeling rested, alert and awake is so important for feeling good. It is the foundation of a vibrant, dynamic life.

2. Move. If you are feeling low, move. Just the act of moving from one place to another creates 'movement,' and 'movement' can help to move feelings of depression out!

3. Exercise. When we exercise or are physically active the brain secretes chemicals, such as endorphins, which make us feel so much better.

4. Meditate. Meditation reduces stress, helps us to sleep better, thus alleviateing depression. Consistency matters. So if you can only 'sit' for 5 minutes a day, that's all right. Do what you can. Hint: when you meditate the same time each day you are creating a positive habit, which will anchor the positive mood that is activated by meditation.

5. Wear Red. Bill Blass says, "When in doubt, wear red." What great advice!! Dark clothing tends to increase the effects of depression. Color can stimulate positive feelings and red is a real energy color. Reds and oranges are traditionally worn by spiritual seekers in India and Asia: they understood that vibrant colors create a vibrant energy field around the wearer of these wonderfully bright clothes.

6. Eat Healthfully. You'll feel lighter. Isn't it a great feeling to know that you're taking care of yourself? Rather than doing yourself in??

7. Drink Water. Studies show that dehydration can be a cause of depression. So bottoms up!

8. Light. As the season changes from summer to autumn, so goes the light. Research shows that getting 20 minutes of sunlight per day, even by sitting at a window, helps fight depression. Don't we all feel so much better waking up to the sun's smiling rays?

9. Smile. What came first, the smile or the good mood? It's hard to tell. Famed spiritual teacher Thich Nhat Hahn has advised that smiling leads to Godliness....and don't forget the mind-body connection. Our body often affects our mind. Just try this experiment: smile and see if you don't feel happier. The mind is conditioned to experience smiling with feelings of joy and happiness. Ha ha ha!

10. Breathing. Breathing helps release stress and anxiety which are components of depression. Focusing on the breathing and releasing tightness in the body and worry in the mind lifts the spirit. Breathing exercises have always be an important part of stress reduction programs. Take a few moments throughout the day to just exhale the tension out and breathe in some calm.

11. Pamper yourself. Take the time to see a movie ( a comedy of course!), go to a show, buy some flowers ( the color and scents provide color therapy and aromatherapy which lifts the spirits), talk to a friend--embrace life! You deserve it!

More Ways to Move Past Depression and into your 'lite:'
How to Pamper Yourself: BEYOND Cookies & Milk
How to Coach Yourself Happy
How diets don't work! Listening Does!!

Spread the word ... NOT the icing,
Janice

____________________________________

Follow Janice on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Required Reading:Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings from the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal an OPRAH BOOK CLUB pick: Summer 2009 - Buy NOW!

Join the Our Lady of Weight Loss's Kick in the Tush Club: Beliefnet Chapter.

Write Janice Taylor, Weight Loss Coach, Certified Hypnotist, Author and 50-pound big-time-loser for an introductory one-on-one coaching session.

Visit: www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com
www.JaniceTaylorLiving.com

Visit Our Lady of Weight Loss.
about Janice

"You are asked for this one day and one night to starve your body so your soul can feast on faith and adoration."

Kick in the Tush Club member, Mary, sent me this Yom Kippur poem by Philip Schultz. A beautiful piece that one can reflect upon - no matter their religion.

Yom Kippur by Philip Schultz

You are asked to stand and bow your head,
consider the harm you've caused,
the respect you've withheld,
the anger misspent, the fear spread,
the earnestness displayed
in the service of prestige and sensibility,
all the callous, cruel, stubborn, joyless sins
in your alphabet of woe
so that you might be forgiven.

You are asked to believe in the spark
of your divinity, in the purity
of the words of your mouth
and the memories of your heart.

You are asked for this one day and one night
to starve your body so your soul can feast
on faith and adoration.

You are asked to forgive the past
and remember the dead, to gaze
across the desert in your heart
toward Jerusalem.

To separate the sacred from the profane
and be as numerous as the sands
and the stars of heaven.

To believe that no matter what
you have done to yourself and others
morning will come and the mountain
of night will fade.

To believe, for these few precious moments,
in the utter sweetness of your life.

You are asked to bow your head
and remain standing,
and say Amen.

More deliciously meaningful links:
The 10 Commandments of Permanent Fat Removal
Woodstock, the Minister and Me
For the Love of Cake

Spread the word ... NOT the icing,
Janice

____________________________________

Follow Janice on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Required Reading:Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings from the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal an OPRAH BOOK CLUB pick: Summer 2009 - Buy NOW!

Join the Our Lady of Weight Loss's Kick in the Tush Club: Beliefnet Chapter.

Write Janice Taylor, Weight Loss Coach, Certified Hypnotist, Author and 50-pound big-time-loser for an introductory one-on-one coaching session.

Visit: www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com
www.JaniceTaylorLiving.com

Visit Our Lady of Weight Loss.
about Janice

Studies show that jigsaw puzzles can help to deter memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Get jiggy!

Enjoy your Sunday.

Spread the word ... NOT the icing,
Janice

____________________________________

Follow Janice on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Required Reading:Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings from the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal an OPRAH BOOK CLUB pick: Summer 2009 - Buy NOW!

Join the Our Lady of Weight Loss's Kick in the Tush Club: Beliefnet Chapter.

Write Janice Taylor, Weight Loss Coach, Certified Hypnotist, Author and 50-pound big-time-loser for an introductory one-on-one coaching session.

Visit: www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com
www.JaniceTaylorLiving.com

Visit Our Lady of Weight Loss.
about Janice

Did you watch Grey's Anatomy last night? I did. And I have to say, I really thought the seviche/ceviche comment about the poor girl who was mangled was tasteless (HA! pun intended) and just plain dumb.

Nevertheless, it did bring Ceviche to mind ... a delicious dish that is low in calories, carbs and fat. Something you might want to order the next time you're dining out!

Ceviche (also spelled cebiche or seviche) is a seafood dish that is marinated in a citrus-based mixture, lemons and limes being the most commonly used. In addition to adding a fresh flavor and bite to the dish, the citric acid causes the proteins in the fish to become 'denatured,' which pickles or 'cooks' the fish without heat. This low carb, low calorie dish (approximately 175 per cup) is bursting with flavor, absolutely de-lish, totally satisfying and is 100% guilt-free.

It is popular in mainly Latin American countries such as Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, Guatemala, Columbia and Chile. Both finfish and shellfish are sued; finfish is typically raw (denatured as described above), while the shellfish is typically cooked.

While Peru is often noted as the birthplace of ceviche, each country puts its own touch on the dish by adding a variety of garnishes. In Peru, ceviche is served with slices of cold sweet potatoes or corn-on-the-cob. In Ecuador, it is accompanied by popcorn, nuts or corn nuts.

If you'd like to give it a try at home, here's a to-die-for recipe!
Ceviche a la Our Lady of Weight Loss

Ingredients: 2 pounds tilapia fillets, cubed * 10 garlic cloves, chopped * 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped * 1 rocoto (Peruvian hot pepper) seeded and chopped * Salt n' pepper to taste * Juice from 12-15 limes, freshly squeezed, strained. Enough to cover fish!!! * 1 red onion, thinly sliced and rinsed

Directions: Combine all ingredients except red onion and mix well. * Place red onion on top and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving. * Before serving, mix well with slices of cold sweet potato and corn nuts.

More Recipes:
Stew ... better than Soup!
Eggs, Caviar and SEX!!!
Obama Eats and Pays: Presidential Chicken and Broccoli!

Weigh-in: Did you think the comment was tasteless?

Spread the guilt-free word ... NOT the icing,
Janice

____________________________________

Follow Janice on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Required Reading:Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings from the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal an OPRAH BOOK CLUB pick: Summer 2009 - Buy NOW!

Join the Our Lady of Weight Loss's Kick in the Tush Club: Beliefnet Chapter.

Write Janice Taylor, Weight Loss Coach, Certified Hypnotist, Author and 50-pound big-time-loser for an introductory one-on-one coaching session.

Visit: www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com
www.JaniceTaylorLiving.com

Visit Our Lady of Weight Loss.

about Janice

Our Lady of Weight Loss presents the 10 Commandments of Permanent Fat Removal because it is her mission to make weight loss fun. Our Lady of Weight Loss hopes that you will smile, laugh and lighten up, particularly in these very serious times. She can't think of anything more delicious than a side-splitting belly laugh. Can you? Sure, laughter is one of God's greatest gifts!

Tips on cookies, milk and break times: "Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap." ~ Barbara Jordan

Happiness is a warm belly! From the Our Lady of Weight Loss Kitchens ... 10 recipes to warm your soul this autumn.

Are you getting enough sleep? Restful sleep? Tired? Maybe even exhausted? The Our Lady of Weight Loss Snooze Factory has 25 tips for you that are sure to help!

In recognition of International Peace Day, here follow 52 'peace-filled' affirmations. It is my hope that we find peace in our hearts and send a ripple effect of love out into the world.

Reuters (and other news outlets) described Alec Baldwin as "portly." Is it okay for men to be 'fat?' Is Alec upset by these remarks? Does he need the help of Our Lady of Weight Loss? Is there a double standard when it comes to 'fat?' Weigh-in here!

Our Lady of Weight Loss turns to her Tarot Deck and The Empress for inspiration and weight loss motivation. Here, she shares her insights as well as a pear recipe.

Janice Taylor, Spiritual Weight Loss Coach, Guided Imagery Innovator, author and 50 pound loser offers 28 diet tips, a take-away from her 4-week program!

Our Lady of Weight Loss and I are invited to our neighbors' tonight to celebrate the Jewish New Year. Needless to say, Our Lady volunteered me to bring dessert. So, I'm bringing my famous Oranges in Fig Sauce. It's easy to make, delicious and so pretty on the platter! Heads will spin! Tune in for secret ingredient!

You might be operating from 'food victim mode' if: You think you 'deserve' ice cream sundaes, cakes and cookies, because you had a hard day. -or - You take what happened to you in the past, drag it into the future and keep using it as an excuse over and over again. "I can't do this, because I was ______________." Sound familiar?

Luke, the plus-sized bachelor in search of his plus-sized dream wife, narrowed the playing field to two: Malissa, blonde and Christian. Tali, dark and Jewish. And then he headed home, with gals in tow, to his Pa and Ma for their input. Great family stuff! Video included.

Required Weight Loss Reading: Will the Biggest Loser make YOU Fatter? The new contestants go mano a mano. Will they reach their goals? Will YOU?

Lips are amazing. They help us to eat, talk, smile, and express emotions. And, most importantly, they were made for kissing!

Maybe y'all think that if you don't eat breakfast, you just saved yourself 300 calories and are that much closer to that skinny-minnie body that you're after. Sorry to be the one to tell you, but it just doesn't work that way!

Serena Williams' outburst in the US Open 2009 in a match with Kim Clijsters against a lines-woman for making a wrong call got me to thinking the messages we send out and how they reflect upon how we feel about ourselves! This week's Sundae Jigsaw Puzzle is for you Serena!

You may be clear about your goal, but are you thinking past your goal? Have you considered what reaching the goal will do for you or how it will change your life? Here, Our Lady of Weight Loss, presents an opportunity for you to 'coach yourself happy.'

On a day such as this one - September 11 - people often wonder: Why does God allow suffering? The Late Bishop H.G. Paulose Mar Gregorios, was asked by a student, following a speech he gave on December 29, 1987...

According to Star magazine Kate Gosselin was offered $400,000 to pose for Playboy. It got my mind to spinning naked thoughts and wondering, if Hugh called me, would I say "yes?" How confident do I feel about my body? How confident do you feel about your body? Is $400,000 enough?

"The food industry has huge culpability as to why we in America find ourselves where we are," Dr. Ian said. "The food industry is not a non-profit agency. They are in it for the profits."

It's 09 09 09 Our Lady of Weight Loss has 9 tips to share with you that can help you to lose 9 pounds in 9 minutes.

The holiday weekend is over. It's time to get serious! This weight loss riddle will get you back on track, back on the wagon ... presidential style.

The Do's and Don'ts o Peanut Butter Smack from the Our Lady of Weight Loss kitchens. Yum!

People say, "I really don't understand why I am always hungry. It's this crazy thing, like an alien has taken over." People ask, "Can you shed 'lite' on this unexplained phenomenon? How can I kill my appetite?" Our Lady of Weight Loss sheds 'lite' ...

Back to School Food Tips: If you had lunch at 11:30 a.m. (or even earlier) and the next time you had access to food was 3:00 in-the-afternoon, wouldn't you be hungry and cranky, too?

It takes both chutzpah and cojones (both indigenous to NYC) to roll out a campaign that takes on the beverage industry. And that's just what the New York City Department of Health has done with its "Pouring on the Pounds campaign," that effectively highlights the anti-health impact of sugary, sweetened drinks.

Maeve Hickey, photographer on the "America In Ireland" project, was kind enough to share one of her photos of Senator Edward Kennedy with us and her remembrances of this most historic photo shoot

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) the average American will munch through, chow down and/or guzzle 22 teaspoons, or 355 calories of sugar today (and tomorrow and the next day)! And you?