Oh, Amie, so sorry to hear about your boyfriend. Hope you get through it. We did get a new router-modem from centurytel and that seems to work. I've been checking the boards but don't feel as if I can carry the IE thread all by myself so I just wait for someone else to comment. I had a great day yesterday. Seems like when you do the cooking, by the time dinner rolls around you're not that hungry and I ate just enough. Welcome, me4life.

Forgot to say, Amie, that you did a great job answering. me4life. Very concise.

News from Michelle May, MD.

******
WHAT MOVES YOU? DISCOVER THE INSPIRATION TO CHANGE

By Michelle May, M.D.

Have you ever felt motivated to exercise, eat better, lose
weight or make other positive changes on New Years day,
only to feel your enthusiasm slip away as time passes or
the going gets tough? Although motivation seems elusive at
times, when you understand how to tap into your sources of
inspiration, you'll feel more in charge of your attitude
and know what to do to maintain and restore your drive and
motivation.

Peel Away the Layers

First, clearly identify your personal reasons for making a
change. It's important to peel away the layers to make sure
you get to the heart of your motivation. Some sources of
motivation are internal: thoughts and feelings like fear or
longing. Others are external: events, people, situations or
rewards that inspire you. Both internal and external
motivators can fuel the process of change, especially when
you tap into those that create strong emotion for you.
These powerful motivators will keep you moving in the right
direction.

Candace was surprised to discover that what she really
wanted was more significant than she initially thought:

I stopped setting New Years Resolutions several years ago.
Before that it was the same thing every year: 1. Lose
Weight. 2. Exercise. Who wants to keep failing year after
year? However, as I "mature" I realize that "losing weight
and exercising" isn't really what matters to me so that's
why my resolutions just left me feeling deprived and
guilty. What I really want is to experience more enjoyment
in my life and to feel more vibrant and healthy. This year
I've decided to set two resolutions that inspire me:

1. Practice mindful eating during at least one (if not all)
of my meals each day.
2. Find opportunities to move more every day.

Here are ten more tried and true tips that can help you
make a change successfully.

MOTIVATON TOP 10

1. Why Now? In order to identify your own powerful
motivators, take out a piece of paper and answer these two
questions:

* Why is it important to me to make a change (for example,
stop yoyo dieting)?
* Why do I want to make this change now, at this point in
my life?

Now, think about what you've written and challenge yourself
to dig deeper to uncover even more meaningful answers. Ask
yourself the two questions again: So why is that important
to me? And why now? You may need to ask the "why" questions
a few times to peel back the layers and get to the personal
inspiration that's the fuel for meaningful change. You'll
know you've hit on something important when you experience
a strong emotion.

2. Set Goals. You wouldn't start out on a trip without
knowing where you're going, would you? Visualizing your
endpoint will help you determine the path for getting there
so your brain has a detailed map to follow.

3. Start Small. One of your greatest sources of motivation
is seeing progress. If you're having a hard time getting
started, ask yourself, "What is the smallest goal I could
set that I'd be likely to achieve?" and start there. Keep
in mind that your goal isn't perfection, it's direction.

4. Be Consistent. Consistency is one of the keys to
creating a habit. For example, if your goal is to walk five
days a week or to start meditating daily, write it down on
your calendar or on your "to do" list then treat it like
any other important commitment.

5. Be Flexible. Too often, people wait for the perfect time
to make a change, like getting more exercise. It's unlikely
the perfect time will ever come--and it won't last anyway--so
make fitness fit into your life just the way it is today.
When life gets in the way (and it will), adjust your
routine so you can still fit it in.

6. Use Reminders. Your motivation can fade simply because
you've lost touch with what inspired you in the first
place. Create reminders to keep your source of inspiration
top of mind. Some examples: If you're motivated to eat
healthier because you want to inspire your children, have
them draw a picture of all of you at the dinner table or
cooking together. If your goal is to be more active, set an
alarm on your computer that reminds you to get up and walk
around the office once every hour.

7. Anticipate Challenges. Set yourself up for success by
thinking through possible challenges and come up with
coping strategies ahead of time. When you make a mistake or
get off track, consider it a learning opportunity. Use the
feedback to create a plan for what you'll do differently
when that challenge comes up again. For example, if you
find you can't get yourself to the gym after you get home
at night, take your exercise clothes to work with you.

8. Team Up. When you're feeling low in motivation, you can
borrow some from others around you. Find an accountability
partner, exercise buddy, coach, personal trainer or support
group. (I'd love to be part of your team to get your New
Year off to a great start. See my 10th Anniversary Bonus
below!)

9. Be Patient. One of the things I hear most frequently
from people I work with is that although it takes time,
they eventually reach a point where eating mindfully or
being more active becomes natural. You may not feel that
way initially so you'll have to operate on faith that that
it will get easier (unless you quit).

10. Reward Yourself. Since it takes time to see results,
come up with both small and large incentives to motivate
yourself to reach your short and long term goals. For
example, you could give yourself points for the minutes you
spend exercising then trade them in for the time to do
other things you enjoy too. And be sure to celebrate your
success as you achieve the goals you've set.

Of course the greatest inspiration is seeing the fruits of
your labor - and the greatest reward is in knowing that
you've done your best.

Thanks, Carol3639,I guess it's just you and me, come on, you IE divas, where ya at, new year, and, it's the best year, as far as I'm concerned, because I am not buoyeed up by false hopes from the dozen emails I got showing me how to make tis the last weight loss New Years Resolution I'd ever need. I've started my new year goals early, declutter my house, I work on it each day, spend less mony, we eat out less, and find a new singing gig. Still sorta clueless on that one, but, when I went down to LA for Christmas and saw the Gershwin play, the guy playing Gershwin picked me to sing a solo in front of 500 people! I've sung in many venus, but, that one was special. He told me I was welcome any time, and put his hand to his heart. It is a moment I will always remember.
Saw Marley andMe, over the break with Dd, I loved it. Food is okay, since Bf and I broke up, I've been depressed, don't feel like overeating, don't have much energy either.
Amie

Hi, Carol and Amie...I still read here quite often. It's my favorite section on 3FC.

Every New Year's Eve up 'til now has been an evening of "last suppering", preparing for the diet that would begin the next day. This year is not like that. I am not last suppering tonight, and I am NOT going on a diet tomorrow.

I am making some personal changes though, and I do want to take off a modest amount of flab during 2009. No more setting overwhelmingly unrealistic weight goals that I can't meet. I KNOW I won't lose a hundred pounds in a year. I won't lose fifty pounds either, but maybe I can at least get under 250. That'll probably be one size down, and I should feel and move better when I get there.

My sister and I have both started weight loss blogs so we can inspire ourselves and encourage each other. We've never done this before, so we're eager to see what happens.

It is such a RELIEF to know that I'm not going to have to rope myself into a new diet tomorrow.

Happy New Year to you ladies, and to all who read this thread!

Hey, Becky, good to see you. Your expectations sound realistic and liberating. I finally dropped one dress size, it took a lot longer than I expected, but, at least I wasn't torturing myself doing it. I'm happy with my vegetarian diet and moderate exercise, I actually really like exercising. This year my goals aren't weight related, I want to make more friends, do new things, get closer to my daughter, put myself out there artistically, and become more conscious, also get organized. If I do these thingsa little every day, I know they will be achieved. Happy new year.

I think this year IE will be especially helpful to me. I'm approaching a maintenance weight, and more and more, I'm trying to make my eating just a natural part of my life, rather than something involving constant counting and restriction. I've come a long ways already, and I'm enjoying each bit of progress I go through

Happy New Year all!

I am re-reading Overcoming Overeating and gearing up on a fitness plan. I don't want to obess on the scale or counting anything. My goal efforts is to let my tummy get hungry and to become active in 2009. I want to eat mindful, than mindless. I am a sweet snacker and will do my best to quit snacking mindless on little debbie cakes, which the prices gone up. So It is a sign for me to take control of my eating habits and change for the better.

I have IE book, but misplaced it ..so am hoping once it found, I will also re-read.

I will post here from time to time..Have a great day and best wishes in 09!!

Liliann

I lose very, very, very slowly, and every other year I'd set as a goal losing three or four sizes. That was completely unrealistic. No wonder I was so depressed when I couldn't get there. I'm with you, this year, NO TORTURE, and just aiming for something realistic, but still challenging.

I'm with you on this! I've done at least 30 years of counting and restriction, and all I've done is gain. I just want to eat something, then forget about it and go on with life. Forget the recording, counting, etc.

Every once in awhile, my husband and I have a run-in with Little Debbie's cakes. For us it's those peanut butter bars (forgot the name of them). WAY too easy to inhale a whole box of those between us. Good luck with your IE this year.

Have a great day, everyone!

We have a house full of company (kids and family) and I brought my DGD home yesterday thinking we'd have a nice time, just the 2 of us. Not. Oh well, they'll only be here one more night. I notice lately that I'm becoming very finicky about food. Anyone else notice this?

Being finicky about food is one of my best tools. It's what makes it so much easier to pass up most of the sweets and junk food I encounter.

Hey, all. Nice to see this thread picking up again. Had three work outs this week shooting for four. Baking shortbread cookies.

From Beyond Chocolate, an IE newsletter.

PRINCIPLE NO. 10: Be your own guru
Remind me what these principles are about.

Promises like pie crust?

This year I will lose three stone by Summer. Go running five times a week. Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Give up chocolate and cakes, sweets and biscuits. Abandon wine, creamy milkshakes and hot chocolate in favour of water. On and on the list continues, as we convince ourselves that this year will be different, this time we'll have more willpower...

What is it about the beginning of a New Year that encourages us to make unrealistic promises for the future? Promises that, for most of us, are only half-remembered feelings of failure by the end of the month. At least we're not alone - in a recent survey, two out of the top three planned New Year Resolutions for 2009 were linked with diet, weight loss or exercise. Continue a little further and the statistics make grim reading, with more than one-third of people breaking their oaths by the end of January and a whopping 75 percent by March.

Don't repeat the same old pattern - do something different this year! Here at Beyond Chocolate, we know that the path to real change lies not in New Year pledges, but in taking real action, right now. As Sophie and Audrey advise in the Beyond Chocolate book, 'start small and take it easy.' Ban the words 'always', 'never again' and 'every time' from your vocabulary and instead choose one easy step to experiment with today. Abandon 'one size fits all' resolutions, be your own guru and choose a way forward that works for you - after all, you are an expert on yourself! Maybe you could truly focus on your food this afternoon? Or move your body in a way that takes your fancy? Choose a meal that you are hungry for and enjoy every mouthful? Maddie, a Beyond Chocolater in Brighton delights in this doable, confidence-enhancing approach, saying that 'For once, I don't want to rush in thinking "This is the answer." I want to approach life in a different way - one day at a time, one principle at a time. I really have found a way to live with myself, my body and food.'

But what if, like the yearly vows, it doesn't quite work out on the first attempt? That's the wonder of Beyond Chocolate! It's not about following rules, plans and routines set by celebrities, personal trainers and a whole host of weight loss experts. Instead, the key is learning to listen to and trust in yourself so even when times are tough, a learning opportunity is gained. For trainee Chocolate Fairy Nicola, Nottingham, this shift from the 'all or nothing' mentality of the dieting world has proved remarkable. 'I've learnt' explains Nicola, 'that making mistakes is not a negative thing. I now see them as a learning tool. If I struggle with one of the Beyond Chocolate principles, it's not a mistake - instead I've just found out something new about myself or my eating habits. I think it was Thomas Edison that said "I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work." That sense of continued discovery is definitely one that reflects my Beyond Chocolate journey.' No guilt or declarations of having to try harder next time - that really is a step away from traditional New Year Resolutions!

I've been trying again lately to wean myself off the prednisone. The key is the blood test which I get done every 3 months. I always feel awful when I first get off it but I hope to give it a good try at least. I don't think the small amount of prednisone I take now really affects my appetite but I'm wondering if there are other things it might be doing to me like hastening the development of cataracts. Who knows. I don't have insurance and don't feel I can run to the doctor all the time. So if the blood test comes out bad in another month I guess I'll just have to put up with the small dose I usually take. I know when I'm not hungry most of the time that I'm probably eating too much even though I don't eat that much. I just think I don't need that much anymore.

Carol, I hope it goes well.