Theatre

A  trip to the Theatre was my Birthday treat and we went to see 'Spamalot', the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. A mixture of crazy humour and funny songs, it was great fun, the audience was enthusiastic and a good time was had by all. The performers seemd to be enjoying it as much as we did!

I'm always impressed by the effort put into any creative endeavour. Performers in the Theatre must have such determination to succeed in their chosen profession; to focus on learning their lines, develop their characters in rehearsal and then put on a good performance night after  night. That can't be easy!
I salute their talents and dedication.... don't know if I could do it!

FOOD... and my relationship with it!

Its not so easy to eat as healthily as we'd like when eating out. When I had lunch out the other day with my old gentleman, we both opted for the 'light-bite', which was just as well, because had we ordered a main meal, we'd have been confronted with a 'man-size' portion, far too big for us oldies. Our choice of two smoked haddock fishcakes on a bed of salad was ample, though we did also share a bowl of chips... HAND-CUT! Yes, real chips, freshly fried, which were so good we polished them off.

 So much for the healthy option! But we did do a fair amount of walking as well.

Mostly I do eat healthily, even though my mother's injunction to finish everything on my plate is a hard one to shake off!

 More about my (and your) relationship with food to come...

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All you need is LOVE!

I'm glad to say that the strained muscle in my leg is now fine and my knee isn't too bad, so I'm able to resume some gentle exercising. I've been sending love to the parts of my body that ache and otherwise complain and as strange as that may sound, I feel it really works!
When we smile, we immediately feel better and as we allow feelings of love to permeate our whole being, it has such a positive effect on all systems of the body. This may be the opposite of one's natural reaction... to curse the injury and berate the body for apparently letting us down. How can we treat ourselves so and expect to feel happy? As the Beatles sang... All we need is Love!

I  believe that one can use this simple tactic for anything and everything... from healing both mind and body to healing relationships in any situation. We know how animals respond to our intentions and can sense our fear, so we can understand how people react to us when we try to hide our true feelings, without even understanding why.

So when you're not getting the results you really want, from strangers, co-workers, friends and nearest and dearest, take a few deep breaths, feel the love, relax and smile!

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COMFORT ZONES

Change is inevitable, but we often have ambivalent feelings about it. It's so easy get into a comfortable routine that gives us a feeling of safety. To some people that can become so monotonous they long to escape to where the grass is greener, while others are forced by circumstances into accepting change.

My old gentleman has lived in his house for many years and long ago made the changes he and his wife wanted.  At present his downstairs toilet and shower room is having a makeover, which his children have decided needs to be replaced, his wife having died last year. I know what they mean, but he sees nothing wrong with his avocado suite, even though the shower has been leaking, resulting in rotten floorboards. He is not a happy bunny, muttering about the mess and the cost.

Maybe resistance to change becomes more evident in old age as we cling to what's familiar. I'm wondering if my body, as it ages, is clinging onto its familiar size and weight out of habit, because it does seem to resist any change. I'm really going to have to persuade my unconscious body-mind to get out of its comfort zone and cooperate with developing a healthier shape and weight to support me in my later years. That's something to tap on anyway. 
What do you think?

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Conscious walking

Today the brilliant sun tempted my elderly gentleman friend to take me out for lunch at the RSPB Nature Reserve in Conwy. We had a short walk as he wasn't feeling too energetic and there was a strong cold wind, before having lunch at the cafe with views over the lagoons, which is a great place to see water birds. 

When we walk slowly and I want to get the maximun benefit, I practise conscious walking; being aware of how each muscle feels as I make the effort to stretch them with each step, together with deep breathing. So even though it wasn't at my usual pace I derived as much benefit as possible. 

The Reserve runs between the A55 and the Conwy River, with dramatic views down the Conwy valley in one direction and Conwy Castle in the other.
I feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country.

GREMLINS

There's nothing that can stop me achieving whatever I want.
HELLO! What or Who is that NO-THING that can stop me?

Well, this is what I call GREMLINS... the parts of our psyche that trip us up and give us excuses for not actually doing the things that need to be done.
I have an Infantile gremlin that says... "I don't want to get up on a cold, miserable morning, out of my cosy warm bed. I don't want to open my eyes... I want to stay here, comfortably dreaming. I'm enjoying my dreams."  That sounds like a rebellious teenager!
Then there's the Laziness gremlin... "You don't have to do that now... there's always tomorrow... chill out man."
Most of us have the Procrastination gremlin that keeps us busy doing nothing. Remember the old song?

"I'm busy doing nothing, working the whole day through... trying to find lots of things not to do.
I'm busy going nowhere... isn't it just a crime?
I'd like to be productive... but... I never do have the time."

Actually I changed a couple of words to make it more true for me! These Gremlins are parts of the mind that originally formed to help us out in some way. Maybe teenagers do need more sleep! And there's nothing wrong with chilling out... when we need to take a break.
They only become a problem when they take over the unconscious mind and become BAD HABITS.
The good news is that they can be tapped on and re-educated to become allies. I like to picture my gremlin as some cartoon character, or whatever pops into my head while I'm tapping on the problem.
The trick is to befriend our gremlins and ask for their help. The unconscious mind is there for our benefit and will come up with a solution... all we have to do is ask!

If you go to my website, below, and look for FREE downloads at the end of the Services page, you'll find the article... "Identify your Gremlins"     Hope this helps.

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LETTING GO

 Having any injury can be seen as a setback, but working with the principles of EFT, I apply firstly ACCEPTANCE of who I am and where I'm at. Secondly, I apply the law of LOVE, for all my selves, mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. So instead of berating my body for breaking down as I used to do and is so negative, I send love and compassion to all parts of my body, especially the parts that are hurting. They need it! Thirdly, I FORGIVE myself for allowing myself to get into this situation and I ask my body to forgive my negligence.
I ask for healing, which is available only when we let go of expectations and just let the energy flow. I think of myself as slim, trim, fit and healthy and believe this is perfectly possible as I focus on all the aspects of a healthy lifestyle that can only benefit my whole self... Mind, Body and Spirit.
I feel it happening already... Yay!

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USE IT OR LOSE IT!

Arghhhh... I can't believe how I've allowed myself to get so unfit!  I.m cracking up!!!!
Yesterday I started a fitness exercise routine and thinking how easy it was, when I suddenly pulled a muscle at the top of my leg and as my knee is also a bit dodgy, now I'm limping along. On top of that, this morning I weighed even more then before! Life ain't always fair. The one thing I don't want in old age is to become disabled in any way.

So now, I'm adding a couple of P's to my Action Plan and Practise... Patience and Perseverance.
Keep tapping for discomfort and exercise gently.

More tomorrow...
www.patricia-wynne.co.uk

ALL CHANGE

Change requires commitment and as my own coach I have to be as tough on myself as I would be for any client!
As Einstein said... "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
So it's obvious that to lose fat and get fit, I must examine my habitual routine and make room for change. During these short, dark wintery days I've been getting up late and sitting around far too much, forgetting about my usual yoga routine. However, I have no excuse not to spend some of that time indoors exercising, so my plan is to start getting up earlier and do at least 10 minutes gentle yoga stretches before breakfast, as I used to do, which kept me supple and healthy for many years. Instead of which, I've been getting straight onto my laptop, which is insanity!
Whenever I can, I take a brisk walk for at least half an hour and if the weather is bad, there is nothing to stop me SWIMMING, which is free for me as a senior citizen! Add to that cycling as the days lengthen and weather improves.
Then as darkness descends, instead of settling  into an armchair in front of the fire and switching on the TV... I can play a fitness DVD and coach my muscles back into shape. NO EXCUSES!  What could be simpler?

Oh, how we rebel against discipline!  Yet the practise of discipline is the key to any success.
My motivation is my Goals and Action Plan on a board where I see it constantly... because I do need that constant reminder to put it into practise... and Practise Makes Perfect!

It's crazy that I need this reminder to do what is not only good for my health, but I actually enjoy but I can Tap for that!

What's your motivation? 

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Motivation

Well, the sun came out today and so did I. Armed with my nordic walking sticks that make me look like a skier out of snow, I did my favourite short walk to West Shore and up the Orme, along Invalids Walk and through the Haulfre Gardens, where I stopped at the Cafe for a good hot coffee, with sugar I'm afraid, but I only have one per day.

These sticks are great for working the upper body as well and do help to get up some speed. I asked a very nice man to take this pic, to prove that I'm getting some exercise!
This could almost be mistaken for the Med, maybe!

So, I'm working on MOTIVATION... and that's the really tricky part of achieving anything.
My goals are simple... WORK OFF FAT AND GET FIT!

My Plan of Action is to eat less and exercise more... simple!  Current advice is to eat 6 small meals a day, though that does seem like snacking to me. The trick is to only eat small amounts at any time. That can be a problem when you like food, as I do and I hate leaving anything...  a residue from my childhood... "Eat everything on your plate... think of the starving children in Africa!" If only I could have sent it to them!!
I've heard that the Queen has only tiny helpings when she has the tedious duty of sitting through long, multi-course banquets, so I'll remember to follow her example.

Motivation has to engage the emotions, so on my Action Plan I'm putting a current pic of myself in all my fatness, which engages all my negative emotions... alongside an earlier pic without it, which makes me feel that anything is possible.

Well, I'll never be 60 again!

EFT is the most effective way of combating cravings, so whenever I'm tempted to buy the dreaded sweet C things... Cakes or Chocolate... I know I can catch the feeling and tap it away... as long as I keep my GOAL in sight!

Any issues can be tapped on, such as... 'Even though Mum said I have to eat everything on my plate... I accept that was her perception, influenced by food shortages and rationing... and that was so long ago... I really don't have to believe that now... at my age... I can now make my own decisions... to only eat what's appropriate for me right NOW!'

Watch this Space...

patricia-wynne.co.uk

Another New Year

Another New Year and most of us are probably thinking about improving our lot in one way or another.
There are many inspiring books out now, as well as motivational newsletters and offers of coaching on the net and I've subscribed to many of them over the last year or so. This is great, but I've begun to feel overloaded with all this information on the Law of Attraction and offers that promise to teach me how to achieve better health, my ideal figure, success and great wealth. It seems that so many people are in the business of self-help and they are simply recycling variations of basic psychological ideas and coaching techniques. Of course these can help, but I'm so put off by the self-promotion and  money making frenzy, that I've unsubscibed from most of them, except those that feel more congruent and don't hassle me.

Now I have no desire to jump on the bandwagon, but I think by now that most of us know what's good for us and what isn't! We know that what we take into our bodies affects our health and how we look... and what we take into our minds informs our attitudes and behaviour. We know that we have to eat less to lose weight and exercise more to keep our bodies healthy. All the information is there, but if we don't take action, we don't get anywhere. It's all too easy to 'know-it-all' and say it doesn't work because... and that's the problem for many of us who can't find the motivation to carry it through.

I have to admit thatI am one of those who have all the 'How to' books, love the ideas and want to promote them. And I do practise what I preach... some of the time! I am lucky to be blessed with good health... BUT... I know I'm heavier than I want to be and when I see pictures of myself, especially from the back, I'm appalled at how I look! So how to find the motivation to do something about it?

Making resolutions is obviously the first step and writing down goals is the first thing a coach will advise. However, most resolutions and goal-setting only last so long because its so easy to fall back into the same old habits.
So I'm putting these thoughts into this blog as one way to get me motivated, yet again, to feel better about myself.
All comments welcome!

Happy New Year to you all
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