Eating less than you can in the evening

We all have heard the belief about weight loss that you just need to eat less and move more.  Things get complicated when you try to put that into practice.   Our approach is going to be unique to us.

People who have trained with me and been part of my Yoga and Weight Loss Group know that I'm constantly suggesting simple things that allow us to sneak up on the problem.   Therefore instead of making huge changes all at once I ask them to think about simply eating "less than you can."

For example, we know we could eat the whole pizza (or cake, loaf of bread...) but what if we took a breath (probably 3 is better) and ate less than we can.   It isn't easy but it allows us to become aware of what we are eating and what choices are in front of us.  We could choose to eat less.

Currently I'm practicing not eating after dinner.   I was recording my food for a week and noticed that a significant amount of my calories were being eaten in the evening.   Obviously I need to eat less than I can in the evening and know that when I've been in an active weight loss period, not eating after my evening meal has been one of the things that has worked for me.

Keeping it simple, I'm stopping eating after my evening meal.   I'm doing it 3 days at a time and then will work up to 3 weeks and then 3 months.   3 seems to be a magic number for my brain.  If I tell myself it is only 3 days, it is much less overwhelming.

Small change---done with awareness and acceptance.   I felt a shift in even the first 3 days.

Namaste,

Dean

Hell-Bent

I just finished reading HELL-BENT:  OBSESSION, PAIN, AND THE SEARCH FOR SOMETHING LIKE TRANSCENDENCE IN COMPETITIVE YOGA.

I loved it.  Read it.   Benjamin Lorr can write and he can write about yoga and yogi's.   His insights into the process of power and teachers and people surrendering power to teachers is the best description ever since Stephen Cope's YOGA AND THE QUEST FOR THE TRUE SELF.

He also nails the thrill of yoga obsession and all the pitfalls.    The world he writes about is the Bikram world but everyone who does yoga can relate.

The descriptions of the teacher training will leave you questioning every time you've let yourself be humiliated and even marginally abused.   Hazing is illegal for a reason.

He asks the question does yoga heal?   Through all the misguidance and crap the answer is still yes.

Namaste,

Dean

Betrayal and the Body

The body betrays us.   I see it happen all the time--people doing the best they can with diet, exercise, meditation and still the body seems to have a process of its own.  If you believe that the mind rules the body, then you feel the frustration that unconscious factors are completely running the show.

Even if you intellectually grasp that you aren't your body, that it is a neutral vehicle, and some day you will end this dream and lay this body down, you still feel betrayed.

That feeling of betrayal leads to a continuous loop of more anger at the body--more criticism, more judgement, more anger, more mistrust.

What is a conscious mind supposed to do?

Apologize.   Apologize to your body for the times you've abused it, not exercised it, not feed it well, not let it sleep, and especially how often you criticized it.

In my work with clients the universal response to looking in a mirror is to criticize what they see.  Common sense would dictate that if your body was your best friend, they would've dumped you years ago.   Maybe our bodies are so used to being criticized they just don't listen to us anymore.  

It is time to change your relationship.

Start by apologizing.  

Namaste,


Dean