Changing My Beliefs

As most of you know I recently went to a workshop run by my favourite motivational man Craig Harper.

It has taken me about a week to sit down and really start processing what spoke about and working out what it means to me.

Craig spoke about many thought provoking topics that were all linked to our desire to change and to have an exceptional life, which I will no doubt speak about here over the coming days and weeks. 

What really rang true for me is how we create our reality based on our beliefs and references (experiences) and to change our beliefs we need to create new experiences and reference points - we need to reset our default settings.

I have spent the last week thinking particularly about this notion and how I can apply this to me.  Well its all very well to say to someone to create new experiences, but what about the times in our past when we have already done some pretty exceptional things - I think recalling these events is a pretty powerful of shaping our self belief, but we often forget them or play them down!!

The first few things that come to my mind are - bungy jumping (I tell myself that I couldn't do it now - but I think I should!!!), moving from country-town Tasmania to live and work on a beautiful Whitsunday Island at 19, packing up my life and moving to the UK for two years!  While I didn't know it at the time all of these experiences changed me in  many ways, some huge some small - and I look back on these times with pride, but they meant getting out of my comfort zone - that's where the secret lies!

So as you know my current desire is to change the state of my health and my weight.  They are only going change if I change my behaviour AND my beliefs.  So instead of referring to my default settings I'm going to recall the times where I got uncomfortable, where I didn't give in to the nasty self talk, laziness or fear and I'm going to create myself some new experiences (sexy lingerie was a good starting point)!  I'm going to stop letting my mind get in the way and do things that make my body feel great!!

Change Beliefs = Change Behaviour = Change Body!!

I want and I CAN BE smoking hot!! Look out, you might burn yourself!

I'm So Excited...and I Just Can't Hide It!!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

I just wanted to share a few things that I have done over the last few days that have given me a real buzz!

1. I've booked in for a workshop run by my favourite motivational website host Craig Harper called "Stop F*cking Around" , its on the 12th of Feb which is ideal timing for me as I'm finishing work at the end of Jan!!  Fellow Queenslanders if you want to go the early bird special ends today so get in quick!!

2. I've started running again, well interval training using Podrunner Intervals so I can work my way up to 5kms.  Even though I hadn't reached the weight loss goal that I had in mind I bought a new pair of shoes anyway - I deserve them and they are awesome (just like me!!) I hope you like them!



3. I've started telling people at work (the ones who I don't want to hear it on the grapevine) that I am leaving, while I do have moments of serious self-doubt, being able to verbalise the reasons why is so amzingly powerful.  Of course I have talked to my man and friends about it but its really only those people who experience the same frustrations that can fully understand and reinforce that I am doing the right thing!

4. I only gained 300g over the holiday period!! Stoked!!

5. I managed to get some washing dry!!

So I figure that as I get my health and weight heading in the right direction, my confidence and energy are going to soar and with the help of the workshop I believe that 2011 is going to be the start of an amazing and awesome life for me!!!

Who wants to come for the ride??

I am not perfect!

After my inspirational posts of a couple of weeks ago...I have a confession to make!

I'm not perfect!

So much so that over the last fortnight I gained 1.2 kilos...although my weigher actually recorded it as 1.4 - I double checked and she just added up wrong ;-(  I don't like mistakes!!

Anyway, you will be glad to know that I haven't beaten myself up about it.  I know where I've gone wrong - booze (I've just discovered the joy of port and chocolate), not tracking, eating a little bit too much of the wrong things AND I've forgotten to do my Think Slim mantras

But I've had fun and I'm getting fitter!!

I'll say it again, for me getting the head part right is the biggest battle! And the fact that I am fairly chilled about this gain is a sign that I'm starting to win that battle!

Workwise things are on a bit of a roller-coaster, my boss resigned yesterday and isn't coming back. My other boss is leaving in December and I have a feeling the rest don't know what to do with me...its complicated to explain.  I'm trying to not spend too much energy gossiping (though I do love it) and put it into my job hunt.  I'm putting vibes out there for a redundancy, for me that's the ideal scenario - a payout and I get to leave, I'd just do some temp work until I score that dream job in PR/Communications!  Fingers crossed!

Hope all my blog friends are happy and healthy! I'll catch up on your blogs as soon as I get this uni work under control.

Love,
Andrea

What's Working For Me

I don't to sound all pompous and wanky, I've been asked a couple of times now 'What's working for me?'

If you've been following me for a while you will know this path has been uphill, extremely rocky and even felt like I'm climbing up a sheer cliff face from time to time. I've lost, I've gained, I've stayed the f****ing same!

But something has switched lately, two weeks in a row I have cut over a kilo and I finally feel that I am winning the mental battle (though I did manage to polish off a whole bottle of wine last night - woops!!)

Lots of people kept telling me that just do the food and exercise and the mind would follow, but that's not how I operate. I'm a Gemini for god's sake...my head has to be in it or the rest of me is just - well NOT!

What has worked for me is reading the book 'Think Slim'  by Mark Stephens and in particular using the transformational keys - which are basically a series of nuero linguistic programming exercises.

Its weird I don't feel like I've changed, but my thinking definitely has.  My priority is to drink at least 2 litres of water every day - and I do it with no worries now, I really question my hunger and make sure as much as possible only nutritious food goes in.  Don't get me wrong the junk food still calls, but I can control it now. For instance, on Friday night I made myself a hot chocolate and got out a couple of chocolate biscuits - it was a treat for having such a great week, I had the hot choc (skim milk of course) but you know what?  I ended up putting one biscuit back - I realised that one was enough!

But beyond, eating and exercising my mind has made a shift in all the other areas of my life.  I am speaking up for myself more at work, my relationship has moved to a more connected, more loving level and my family relationships are improving too.  The housework is getting done, as is the ironing and I just don't feel stressed.

I caught up with some friends last night and mentioned that I'm looking for a new job in Communications and they were so great. One writes fabulous selection criteria so is going to help me there, another works in HR within a Government Dept so is going to send me some tips and details of a couple of jobs that she thought I could throw my hat in the ring.

I'm still taking one step at a time and one meal at a time, but I'm definitely moving in a new direction. I am grateful to Lucy who hosted the giveaway where I won Think Slim, I grateful for Mark Stephens who wrote Think Slim and I am grateful for having the opportunity to change my life!

Eye of the Tiger!

I feel like Rocky tonight!

Because tonight I fought some major demons.

You know the ones...

Like the one that tell you not to go for a walk, to go straight home and worry about it tomorrow!  The other one was trying to tell me not to worry about cooking dinner tonight, it's Friday, you're supposed to have takeaway!

BACK OFF!!

I said and went for one of my best ever walks....oh and by the way, slipped a wee bit of running too!

BACK OFF!!

I said again and cooked up chicken and vegies instead of piling up on fish and chips.

At the shops another Demon tried it on..."mmmm should get some chocolate for dessert its 3 bars for $5 - cheap as". You know what....I walked away with my chicken and cat food and had the loveliest dinner, I feel deliciously sleepy  from my run/walk and rather chuffed with myself and the decision I made tonight!!

I'm just a girl and her will to survive!!

WOW! What a weekend!

I have had a massive, but great weekend!

Friday night we drove to the sunny coast and had dinner with my brother who lives os and was visiting, then hang out with the olds for a bit, drove home at midnight and had to be up early for a hair appointment....and its looking great! 

Houseworked because my lovely mother in law came to stay as she is flying out to Europe for 5 weeks tonight! We stayed up drinking wine and solving the problems of the world.

Today, today was the best. I went clothes shopping - I have to look spiffy for these job interviews that I'm going to land!! I bought 2 skirts, 5 tops, 1 pair of dress shorts and 1 pair of gorgeous heels for less than $250 AND the best part is - I've gone down a size in everything - EVEN THE SHOES!!!

AAAAANNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDD

I came home and did a fashion parade, pulled out a suit that I haven't worn in over 5 years and guess what - IT FITS!!!  I am sooooo excited I feel like I've got a whole new wardrobe!!

I am so going to land myself a fantastic job because not only am I going to look amaaaazzzzing, I just wrote the best cover letter ever and my resume is looking sen-SA-tional - who wouldn't want to hire me!

PS - have been so busy, food has hardly crossed my mind!!  Is this the beginning of the new me! Damn right it is!! 

PPS - I think my boy is going to get some tonight }:-)

Postscript

After writing that letter last night I did a lot of reflecting and that old bag "self-doubt" and her bitchy friend "self-criticism" started to try and worm their way in.


They started to try and remind me of the mistakes I have made, of times when I haven't treated myself well and times I didn't behaved in ways that make me proud. They tried to make me question if I really can change and be the person I want to be!


Why do we do that to ourselves?  How do we deal with those cows?


 I only want the beautiful 'self-confidence' and 'self-love' in my life, I want only them pushing me forward, encouraging me to treat myself right and guiding me away from the evil ones mentioned above.


I worked through it by embracing those thoughts and telling myself that time when I wasn't doing the right thing was because I was still learning about life, about myself and getting some things out of my system.  I tell myself that I have learnt from it and while those days are part of who I am, they are the dirt beneath the foundation....now I am building that foundation, putting the posts in place and cementing over the top of the crap.  Slowly and surely I am building a beautiful home for my soul and I can't wait to decorate it!!


How do you deal with those evil little bugs that try to undermine your good work?


PS - Weigh-in update - stayed the same this week :-)

Dear Andrea (A Letter to Myself)

Dear Andrea,

This letter is to tell you that I am so proud of you! Your mind and body are so strong and you have proved that you can make changes in order improve your health, attitude and emotional state.

I know you are feeling frustrated career wise at the moment, but remember you are an intelligent and wonderful human being and you really must back yourself and believe that you can make a change.

You know your favorite saying is "Whatever decision you make will turn out for the best, because you make sure they do" and I think this is the time to really start making decisions about what is best for you over the next couple of years.

Every day you tell yourself to write down the reasons for the healthy changes your are making, so come on what are they?

Ok I'll tell you......

1. Your health
2. To be healthy and energetic
3. To start a family
4. For a better attitude and mental state
5. So you can buy nice clothes

And most important of all....so your outside matches your beautiful inside!

My darling, you deserve the best in life and not to miss out on ANYTHING! This is your chance now to embrace the momentum you have created and carve yourself the most beautiful life, full of friends, family, love and laughter.

Go forth my girl and show yourself what you're made of!!

Love always,
You xx


PS - You will be HOT!!!

Seeking Alternatives

I'm looking for alternatives.

Alternative things to say when I'm in situations where I have to explain this journey that I'm on without sounding like a d*ck!

What's got me thinking?

I've got  a week long work conference coming up and we all know that usually means night time drinking and socialising. I want to socialise but not have the big nights. I want to get up for walks in the morning and I know the topic will come up.

In "Think Slim" by Mark Stephens he argues against thinking and talking in terms of "losing" weight because it has connotations of finding it again. 

I want to say something funny, firm, but positive too!

What can you suggest?