Recently I had the pleasure of attending Paul Cassidy`s workshop "Reclaiming your inner power. Creating results in health, wealth and relationships". This seminar was presented at the BUC studio and I wanted to share some of the things that were talked about that really hit home with me.

Insanity. Doing the same thing over and over hoping for different results.

Sound familiar? How many times have you said you wanted to lose weight so you got back on the diet roller coaster, hit the gym hard only to find a few months later your motivation has wained and you are popping chocolates in your mouth? If you want to make real change in your life you have to bring your patterns to a conscious level and then make a decision to do something different! For many of my clients part of ending their insanity was to walk through my doors and ask for help and guidance in doing things differently. Which brings me to my next point..

If you ask for help be prepared to ACT on the help you receive.

It is hard to ask for help. It makes us feel uncomfortable, sometimes inadequate, stupid, and even shameful and embarrassed. Paul's thoughts were to ask yourself this. How does it make you feel when someone asks YOU for help? Everyone in the class agreed that it felt great, empowering, made us feel needed and worthwhile, happy and smart. So the next time you hesitate to reach out and ask, realize that in asking someone for help you are actually giving them the gift of good self esteem. Hmmm seems like a win /win to me. You get the help you need and you leave someone else feeling great! Now the kicker is you need to take that help and honor the advise or guidance you are given. For example, if you hire me to help you break your own insanity cycle then take what I give you, which includes your homework programs and guidance on how to put together your healthy meals and get it done! Which then leads into the third point...

Pain in life in inevitable. Suffering is a choice.

Ouch.. how very true. So now you have your plan, you have learned how to eat, but you still choose to not commit 110% so you get less than stellar results. You then continue to SUFFER in a body that you don't love, in thoughts of being "less than" and feeling down on yourself for not having the will power to walk away from the Christmas goodies. This my friends, is a choice and it may not be on a conscious level but it is a choice. You are just avoiding the pain of having to make life long changes, facing behaviors that don't serve you and being uncomfortable. Change is hard, and I understand that, BUT the pain of making these changes is temporary... if you choose not to your suffering will be endless and life long.

I believe that most of my clients are addicts. Addicted to food, unhealthy lifestyles and addicted to negative self beliefs, yet we as a society don`t view them with the same compassion as we would an alcoholic. Think about that.... if someone has a drinking problem and makes the choice to end their suffering, initially it is quite painful. To admit to having a problem to friends and family must be hard but in almost all cases they are greeted with open arms, love and compassion and not judged on a behavior. Good people make poor choices everyday. Then they are able to ask for help, attend AA meetings and surround themselves with support which is how they ACT on the help they have been given. It is a life long battle but one that must be undertaken in order to break the addiction and end the insanity. They do not have the luxury of `just one drink`. Think about that every time your will power feels weak.

In 2008 Statistics Canada reported that 51% of Canadian adults were overweight and about 17% of those fell into the obese category. I won`t even begin to look at the US statistics....

It is time to start looking at yourself and realize that you don`t have to be a part of the rising statistics. You can make a change, ask for help, act on the help that is given, walk through your pain, end your suffering and stop your insanity. It won`t be easy for most, but it is do-able for ALL.

Bodies Under Construction is full of amazing spirits, clients and trainers who will extend their support and do their part on helping you walk a healthier path.

Maybe one day we will view over eaters with the same compassion as we do alcoholics... perhaps when society realizes and is ready to face what a significant problem this is we will see more change.

Until then I do what I can to help every individual who walks through my door. So ask me for my help..... my own self esteem likes the boost!

Lisa

On a side note. Paul will be back in the studio in the new year presenting this seminar again and will also be a part of my 12 week nutrition groups that will start on January 11th and 14th (details will be posted shortly or email me directly for more information).