I've put together a list of simple yet effective ways for you to embrace the joy of Christmas this year.

And in the spirit of keeping it easy and simple, I will roll out the list over the rest of this week.

Lets take a proactive approach to Christmas because it's easier than you think!

Day 1:

Make plans in advance where possible: I know that's a no brainer, but it's surprising how often it's overlooked and especially when it's still November, we just keep thinking we still have lots of time. But the reality is, you have less than 5 weeks and we all know how manic those last couple of weeks can get. So jump in and make your plan now for what you need to do and get started.

If you're not already someone who makes lists, now is a good time to embrace list making. It gets things out of your head and clears up space in there for feeling calm and you'll always remember the important things because you've written them down. The most important thing lists do is allow you to see all the things...

You have to add LIFE into your life!

There are many many stressful things about being overweight isn’t there?

 
And for me, the most stressful part was trying to lose it.
 
Because it was always all about the  food; pre-planning and pre-preparing meals, restocking pantries and learning new recipes and changing the way I cooked because there was always a food group that I was no longer allowed to eat.
 
I really disliked the meal planning to be honest, because by the time any meal time came, I would be wanting/craving something entirely different – but, as I had gone to all that trouble of preparing it in advance and it was, after all, what I was supposed to be eating if I wanted to lose weight, I would sit down and eat my ‘good’ meal.
 
Then, because that meal wasn’t actually what I wanted to eat, because I   had a craving for something else, something entirely different, I would graze my way through the ‘allowable’ foods in the general vicinity...

Have you ever felt stuck?

I have. It's such a powerless position to be in.

But no one is ever truly stuck, there is always something you can do to get yourself moving.

Step 1. Establish the direction you want to head in
Step 2. Get some paper and a pen
Step 3. Brainstorm all the wild and wacky ways that you can think of to get you from where you are to where you want to go
Step 4. Choose your first step
Step 5. Take action

It sounds so trite doesn't it? You've read those steps many times before I'm sure.

The thing is, when we are down, when we feel like we're stuck in quicksand, it's the quicksand of our mind that we're stuck in.

The simple act of writing stuff out will help you move through that quagmire and get yourself going.

You will have to do it again and again and again until you start to feel like the person who got dumped by the big wave as they finally swim to the top and break through the surface. Then you'll start to get some traction.

Keep going. Don't allow yourself to get bogged...

What is good rest for you?

Is it sitting on the couch watching TV

Is it sleeping all day

or is it going out and having fun?

Whatever your definition of a good rest, we have to give our body the rest it deserves.

Let it relax, let it breathe, rejuvenate and charge its batteries. What's your rest look like?

Don't wait for you to lose weight to actually start living life and doing the things that you have long wanted to do.

Do it now and start getting active and doing things that move your body and gives you happiness and pleasure.

Headache, Neck & Jaw Clinic

I saw that clinic on my way home the other day and remembered when I would have been super interested in finding out more about what they did because I used to have 3 migraines a week (for 25 years) and constant neck and jaw pain. Horrible situation to be in and I empathize with anyone else who suffers the same.

The year I started living the Dietless Living way (2011) was the year it all went away.

For 25 years I'd been told my problems were a result of old untreated injuries sustained in car accidents, falling off horses, and early athletics.

But as it turns out, living the Dietless Living way and giving up stress, anxiety, over working, over eating, and actually getting out and really enjoying my life and being happy was the answer all along.

No more migraines, no more neck or jaw problems.

But instead a zest for life and waking up happy every day with a clear head, a thirst for adventure and a great feeling of joy and calm.

To create change, YOU...

It's a long and uninteresting story that focuses on what we don't want rather than what we do want, which is, to love and accept ourselves.

Here are some ideas to do that;

Recognize how remarkable and miraculous your body is and love it exactly how it is

De-emphasise the desire to fit into a stereo-type image because when you focus on 'that image' you objectify your body, you de-humanise it and yourself, you are sooooo much more than that.

‍ Emphasise the desire to celebrate your life, your desire to live the happiest, healthiest life you possibly can.

Humanise yourself, love yourself, show compassion for yourself.

Get out in the sunshine, be active, participate in life.

‍Focus on the process of creating health rather then the result of losing weight.

The process & key to happy healthy you includes;

• Fun
• Enjoyment
• Relaxation
• Living life
• Eating for nutrition
• Enjoying what you eat without judgement
• Changing the way you think, feel & react to life
• ...

Exercise provides a number of physical and mental benefits, right?

However most of us find it hard to stick to exercising. So, what we actually need to do is to find a way to create a sustainable habit of moving our body.

How?

Find an activity of moving your body that is enjoyable to you. Something you love doing because the more fun it is for you, the more you stick to it.

And that's what we need consistent exercise or body movement so we experience the magnificent benefits of an active body.

"When you are happy, you make better and healthier choices for yourself."