eating heathy is it's own reward.

 

when re-booting a health program, it is important to NOT FOCUS on losing weight. i know that's what we all want, but it is too often the deal breaker that sends us back to the cycle of fasting, binging, guilting, and then back-petaling which lead to weight loss + gain (aka yo-yoing). don't do this. as hard as it sounds, make small changes to improve your health that will last. 
weight loss WILL follow, but mustn't be the primary goal! here is an excellent blog post from life.gaiam.com that reminds us of the important benefits of healthy eating:

Healthy eating rewards

 

Below you will find seven rewards of eating healthy that you should focus on during your weight loss journey and beyond. These side effects of healthy eating will be felt almost immediately, and, in my opinion, can be just as motivating as the weight loss reflected by your scale. So when you’re feeling down about your progress, or if you've hit a “plateau,” please keep these seven benefits in mind.

 

1. Clearer, brighter skin

 

The pillars of a good weight loss diet, which include drinking lots of water and eating lots of fibrous fruits and vegetables, will do wonders for your skin. Within 48 hours of initiating a healthy eating regimen, you are likely to notice brighter skin and eyes, less puffiness and fewer blemishes. The reason for this is simple: Water flushes toxins from your body while antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties found in fruits and vegetables immediately improve the look of your skin. It is also important to know that high-sugar foods and foods with unhealthy fats (namely trans fats) do immediate damage to your skin. So when tempted to stray from your healthy diet, remember how much you are enjoying your lovely new complexion.

 

2. Increased energy

 

Are you lacking energy? Do you feel as if you could fall asleep every day at 3pm? If you want to get that spring back in your step, be sure to start and stay on your healthy eating regimen. By eliminating sugar and processed carbohydrates (a cornerstone of all good weight loss programs), you will feel more energized within days. It often takes 2-3 days to cleanse your body of sugar, during which time it is possible that you will feel extra tired; however, after you’ve broken the sugar cycle, you’ll never want to go back.

 

3. Improved mood

 

Eating poorly is sure to wreak havoc on your mood and on your emotional state. Sugar highs and lows are most often to blame for this, but even the mere act of overeating can trigger a cascade of hormones that may leave you feeling down in the dumps. If you are a “veteran” dieter, you can probably testify to the fact that when you are losing weight you feel slightly euphoric. I can’t exactly explain the science behind this feeling, but you will likely feel it after a few days of clean eating.

 

4. Better-fitting clothes

 

Even before your scale shows weight loss progress, you will likely notice a difference in how your clothes fit. And isn’t looking trimmer more important than a number on a scale anyway? 

 

5. Finely tuned taste buds

 

Contrary to what you may believe, food actually tastes better when you are watching what you eat. If you are carefully choosing your meals and snacks, you will quickly realize just how delicious an apple can be. On the flip side, if you’ve been bingeing on sugar and chips, that apple may not taste as good anymore, because you’ve blown out your taste buds with excess sodium and sugar. 

 

6. Stronger friendships

 

Be sure to enlist your closest friends in your weight loss journey. Having a support system makes it that much easier to stay on track. And by reaching out, you are sure to make strong bonds with both new and old friends. Many of my closest friends are the people that I call for support when I’m not feeling so nutritionally motivated. 

 

7. A positive attitude

 

As I mentioned above, the hormonal side effect of eating well can do wonders for your mood. But there is yet another reason why you should get back on your nutrition plan: From Day One of your weight loss journey, I can assure you that you will have a better attitude about life. Whether you’re thinking about an impending social engagement or a stressful meeting at work, people tend to feel more in control and more positive in general when they have taken control over their eating habits. Even if you haven’t lost a pound yet, you will find that you feel better after stocking your kitchen with healthy foods.

 

As you can see, the number on the scale is not on the above list. And the reason for this is because the scale is not a good indicator or a good motivator of weight loss success. It is too easily swayed by hormonal shifts and water retention. Instead, focus on the seven positive side effects that you will feel from Day One of your healthy eating plan, so that the next time you feel like giving up, you can remind yourself that healthy eating is about so much more than just weight loss! Learn how to eat healthier with weight loss and nutrition videos on GaiamTV.com!

http://life.gaiam.com/article/7-reasons-get-back-your-healthy-eating-plan

if you want to connect to others you have to show up.

why is this is so important? it's important because you have to show up, you have to do the work, you have to be there winning or losing. it's doesn't matter which, but to learn to be honest with yourself.

it's balancing accepting yourself for who you are with challenging yourself to be who you want to be. putting yourself out there. allowing yourself to be judged by others, knowing that their opinion doesn't matter if they don't have dirt on there face too from the fight of life.

are you an "all-purpose nobody" who sits in the darkness jeering smart remarks at those who are standing naked in the sun to recite a poem they created form their heart? or are you this unique, unspoiled, imperfect flower who is ready to bloom? you choose.

The 5% Statement

this blog is not about losing stuff. it is about gaining stuff, such as purpose and passion. you have to have a compelling purpose to let go of stuff. like if you are about to fall off a high cliff, you would have a strong reason to let go of your favorite tea pot so that you could use that hand to grab the rope which could save your life. no one wants to let go of comfort. even if that comfort comes in the form of being to fat or having too much stuff or even too much money. but when you realize your life depends on it, it makes it a lot easier to make that choice. to make the transition.

if you really want to make lasting change in you life, and have made dramatic resolutions geared to improve it, and yet feel like you have already failed at those new resolutions consider this from zenhabits.net:

Sometimes, the best way to find a purpose in life is to go out there and take action, even if we don’t know what we are doing!

My favorite tool at this stage is the 5% statement, created by Nathaniel Branden, who is widely considered to be the father of the self-esteem movement. It works by allowing you to take steps in small increments. Trying to change completely overnight, as some might suggest, often creates fear, uncertainty, and resistance.

A 5% statement is split into 2 halves. Examples would be:

If I were to be 5% more responsible today, I would ___________.
If I were to be 5% less lazy today, I would ___________.

The first part of the statement doesn’t have to change. But every morning when we wake up, we think of something that fills in blank, and then do it! As you can see, 5% is small and harmless enough to let us overcome our fears and procrastination. Being flexible enough to do different things everyday in pursuit of the same goal also keeps us from boredom and routine. Even better, it encourages us to think of new ideas to try (although we can simply do the same activity 5% more each time).

You can use this for anything you plan to do – begin a new exercise routine, reduce procrastination, improve your workflow, or even your personal relationships. And if 5% seems too little, don’t worry – it builds up rather beautifully.

read the whole article here: http://zenhabits.net/passion-and-purpose-in-life/

The Pursuit

i'm not sure that trying to lose weight is the right idea. this is a daunting task,
an endless, thankless venture. one that often ends in dismal failure.
perhaps the correct approach is "the pursuit of health"! this can be achieved each day. if in the beginning the best i can do is shop right, or just get the juicer on the counter and juice, or take a walk, i have succeeded in my pursuit. 

this "right effort" far exceeds feelings of terminal failure and continued excess. just as the bill of rights guarantees "the pursuit of happiness", you can guarantee yourself the pursuit of health. 

little steps in the right direction, day by day, are their own reward.

The Trouble with Starting Again

the photo here shows a huge ginger root for the juicer, 5 of 10 pounds of carrots, 1 of 2 bunches of spinach (good for juice or smoothy), cilantro, parsley, head of romaine ( i know people frown on ice-burg, but i like it mixed in with other greens- it's a good staple). on the spendy side is the low carb protein powder and almond milk. i find have a protein shake is a good way to keep me from conjuring up a good tasting- "interesting" breakfast. it's quick and easy, and can sometimes get me out of the kitchen before i start "creating" in there.

the trouble with starting again is the fear of failure. the fear of going thru all the hard work, suffering, schlogging, trying and hoping- only to get tried-out after six or seven days, weeks, or months. Exhausting yourself again, then eating wrong and stopping everything, and gaining back the weight and losing all the momentum one more time. it's a trap.

so how about i don't do that again. how about i don't "try so hard", but i try just a little. if i just shop smarter, fill it with veg and expensive stuff that's good for me instead of cheap stuff that's not.

the other thing i have to remember is that "this is me". i have always been a little heavy, and will always be a little heavy. so this isn't a blog about, "look at me struggle and strive to be something i am not", it's a blog about taking responsibility for my own health. being mindful of who i am and what i can do to enjoy the best parts of life.

Read & Walk

Making change is a two part process. Educate yourself and then take action.
I have sometimes found that I read and read, and browse the internet searching for new ways to lose weigh, have personal success, attain enlightenment. But knowing is only half the battle, taking action is the other half. But, having said that I would like to share one of my favorite go-to websites for sensible weight-loss info it is http://www.coachcalorie.com/.


Sign up for the emails, and get the free e-book. This site has a lot of guest bloggers and isn't crammed with creepy ads for "quick-loss diet schemes".

Here's one of the posts that I liked:

http://www.coachcalorie.com/fitness-experts-best-weight-loss-tips/

The Greatest Gift

Taking off into the unknown.

We have all tried and tried to make positive changes that will improve our lives. And we have all succeeded and we have all failed. Succeeding feels better.

So here we are again: Taking off into the unknown.

When I took a look at this blog, with distant eyes, I saw that it was very inspirational. I thought, I want to be like that guy! "He has it all together."
Today, I am starting the blog again. Not to be perfect, not to make money, not to make a career, not even to have a successful blog, but as a part of my own process. I want to be the guy who inspires others. (But not at the cost of sabotaging his own success.)

Welcome to 50PoundsToPassion.