BEN in Texas!

Mindless Eating. . .

THREE TIPS TO PRACTICE:

• WHEN YOU EAT A MEAL USE A SALAD PLATE RATHER THAN A DINNER PLATE.

(Your stomach is not the first thing that registers that you're full.  When your eyes see your plate is empty, or nearly, your brain starts to register that you are "full."  Same sized portions on a small plate LOOK bigger than when they are on a large plate.  Your brain is tricked into thinking you're eating more, thus getting full on LESS simply by regularly eating on a smaller plate.
 

• CONSUME FEW OF YOUR CALORIES IN LIQUID FORM.

This may or may not be an easy tip.  It was for me because I hadn't gotten into a habit of drinking a lot of pop, or caffeinated drinks.  However, it is an excellent tip.  If you use the excuse of "I drink diet drinks...there aren't any calories in it..." stop anyway.  Do it slowly.  Don't do cold turkey.  Just drink one less than you normally would each day, and gradually taper off until you are limiting what you drink to predominantly water.  (Milk and orange juice or other vegetable or real fruit juice is okay...)

• IF YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE HAVING A "BAD" TREAT, YOU CAN...BUT ONLY AFTER YOU EAT A PIECE OF FRUIT.

I was really amazed at how this worked psychologically, and physiologically!  Your mind isn't feeling "deprived" by knowing it CAN have the treat.  Your body is given a natural sweet first, which reduces the craving for the "bad" sweet.  As this is repeated, your body gradually loses it's craving for the "bad" treat and your mind doesn't even notice. 

REMEMBER: Your brain is the thing that needs retraining...not your stomach!!  You never have a craving in your stomach that your brain doesn't think of first!

So, I'm finally posting some pics from Dad's and my "project". . . aka painting, moving and reorganizing our bedroom!

BEFORE. . .
DURING. . .
AFTER!!

COURAGE

February 4, 2010

I don't usually read The Era, simply because I have enough to do getting The Ensign read each month. However, as I sat down to eat some lunch, I grabbed The Era and opened to page 8 of the January 2010 issue. It was a one page article about what we can learn from one single verse of scripture. The reference is Joshua 1:9

I learned/was reminded of several things:

Did you know "dismayed" in Hebrew means to be beaten down or discouraged? So, when the scripture in Joshua says, "...be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest," it takes on a very different meaning.

So, the next time you feel frustrated, discouraged, beaten down, but just feeling emotionally LOUSY – remember Joshua 1:9

"9. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord they God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Don't Be Fooled

Mom's Moment

February 1, 2010



Last year when I was going through a very difficult time, I sat crying in the car at Lin's parking lot. (I don't usually do that!) I had many bad feelings running through my head when the thought came to me, "Write down the feelings you are having."



I was a bit surprised, but I fumbled through my purse and found a small piece of paper and wrote one-word feelings. Here is the list:



Terrified

Traumatized

Hurt

Scared

Inadequate

Ignorant

Incapable

Angry

Alone

Helpless




Just a few minutes after writing the last word, a surprising experience took place. A very peaceful feeling came over me as I felt some direct spiritual guidance. The following thoughts came into my mind and my heart:



"You are not those things at all...(I was just a bit surprised at this because I REALLY felt those things!) Actually, just the opposite is true. The adversary is the great deceiver and he is trying to make you feel all those things, but you are truly the opposite of those feelings."



At this point I was still very surprised, and a bit disbelieving. I looked at the paper and internally asked, "Oh really? Then what AM I feeling?"



Without any hesitation, the Spirit went down the list and told me each "opposite." I was amazed as a total "calm" came over me. After a few minutes, I started the car and drove home, a VERY different person.



Just the other day, I came across the paper I had written my bad feelings on. I never knew I still had it! I just wish I would have written down the Spirit's "other list." But I will NEVER forget this experience and how I felt!