Thank Goodness I Am Not Just My Body!

Lisa G Wright

My staff and I recently updated our professional photos for marketing purposes. This photo is an untouched proof that came through our email today and I was SHOCKED at all of my wrinkles!

Do you look in the mirror or have a photograph taken of yourself and LIKE what you see?

Dang it, I know I’ve hit the double nickel this year. I know I spend a lot of time in the sun with all my activities and I KNOW I’m still too stubborn to dye my hair. Seriously WHEN did I start looking my age?

Now I’m going to do what I do best and change the subject when I start feeling uncomfortable … follow me if you can.

Mind Body Spirit Connection and Weight Loss

There are many diets on the market, exercise programs, diet pills, etc. Years ago my training studio staff and I put together our mission statement and core values with the help of a trusted professional. One of our core values “Unity” reads as follows:

• At YPB we all embrace the same fitness philosophy, share knowledge and strengths with one another and create a united team in support of our clients’ balance of mind, body and spirit.
• We promote a community of clients and trainers focused on mutual trust and interconnectedness.

Unity

Unity seems to supports the truth I’ve come to know beyond the physical body. My journey has led me to believe we are not just our bodies! As stated in a previous newsletter… I also believe we have a responsibility to our body.

I have sought a deeper meaning in life, always. Through time and a discipline of prayer, study and meditation; I have learned to access within my physical form a place where love vibrates, radiates and is transforming my life’s most true intent.

I most certainly should exercise and eat right … this is logical to me yet still hard to do. Beyond logic (my mind thinking) into the depths of my being resides a Power greater than myself. It seems to affect my relationship with others, with exercise, with food and all things of this world, like no other. Nothing has ever made a greater impact on my practical and spiritual life.

Just as I have learned to exercise daily, eat right, take a bath, brush my teeth, wear my seat belt in a car and a helmet riding my bike, so I have learned to turn my attention inward twice daily. The practice of sitting in silence, allowing my thoughts to rise, not dialoguing with them and gently turning back to my heart center has brought a freedom and peace that can only be the fruits of this practice.

So you want to lose weight?

In my experience, lighten your mental load first. I may have gone to extreme and competitive measures to look good on the outside for much of my life but it was all I knew how to do and I wasn’t happy.

Your insides are yours to work on; if you want some help with your physical condition, call me at 361-549-4604, my staff and I would love to work with you in our loving, caring, non-judging and safe studio environment.

Like many of you, I can really have a tendency to get overwhelmed by being overly responsible and NOT just during the holidays. It seems there’s always so much things to do. It’s hard for me to tell people no and I can teeter on the edge of feeling more cray-cray than usual when I take on too much!

Since very young, I was convinced that I had to take care of everything and everybody —with a not well family, I didn’t know what my choices were. Today, with the help of my recovery program I have learned that, while I do have responsibilities, there are also many things I do not have to do:

Understand everything

My brain doesn’t like not knowing or not understanding things. It will even make stuff up to feel satisfied that it IS indeed in the know.
Some things are not my business, and other people, places and things may simply never make sense to me.

Be reluctant to show my feelings.

When I’m happy, I can give in to it! When I’m not, I can turn to my recovery friends (or trusted others) who help me with acceptance, perspective and to grow through the tough times.

Three years ago, I knew more about what you were feeling than I did myself. Learning how to feel has become part of my recovery and it is great not bottling that stuff up inside me anymore. My preferred method of identifying my feelings is through journaling and a call to a trusted other, sharing what I’ve written and listening for perspective.

Feel threatened by the future.

I can take life one day at a time. I can be a wife one day at a time, a mother, an employer, a professional and anything I want to be ONLY one day at time. This is SUCH a relief to me. The God of my understanding is in the here and now. This is where I want to live.

Feel guilty about the past.

With the help of 12 little Steps, I can make amends to God, to myself and to others and learn from the mistakes I have made. Forgiveness has truly been mine all along.

Feel alone.

I can go to a meeting, or pick up the phone –there is always a trusted other or professional to reach out to. I have truly learned to enjoy my own company over time, I like to sew, walk the dogs, read and write.

Take responsibility for other people’s choices.

They have their own Higher Power to help them make their decisions. This includes especially my family. They have their own God and I am not It!

I am learning to say what I mean and not say anything in a mean way.

Give up on my hopes and dreams.

My Higher Power is not limited by my lack of imagination.

What is on your “Things-not-to-do” list? Are you overly responsible for others as I have been?

As Dr. Phil would say, “How’s that working for you?”

With each day there is a chance for a new start, is there something you could stop doing so you can start taking better care of yourself? Do you need to exercise, eat better and feel better?

I can help you. My studio is full of passionate and caring trainers, clients and laughter. We work hard and get results.