It’s National Popcorn Day and rather than celebrating it by hitting the streets in search of a super-sized bucket or two of buttered caramel popcorn, this Weight Loss Artist ™® thought it the perfect opportunity to make a piece of Weight Loss Art™® !

A Weight Loss Artist™® is someone who makes art about food instead of eating it and, in the process, loses weight. I permanently removed over 50 pounds. (For the full skinny on how to permanently remove fat, keep your hands covered in glitter and make weight loss fun, be sure to pick up a copy of Our Lady of Weight Loss!!!)

Weight loss art is any form of art and/or craft that keeps your hands and mind busy creating rather than eating and, at the same time, the activity grounds you to your healthy lifestyle goals!

Certainly, a popcorn frame meets the criteria! Are you ready to pop some kernels and glue ‘em, and not eat ‘em?

Straight from the Our Lady of Weight Loss’ Craft Room
Pious Project: Popcorn Frame

Supplies:
popcorn
glitter glue
frame (small is good, with a flat few inches to work on)

Instructions:
pop your popcorn
let it cool.
put glitter glue on the frame
place popcorn on top of glue artistically

Note: I use glitter glue because it’s colorful, fun and pretty. And when a piece of popcorn shifts and there’s a little bit of the frame showing through it – well … glitters!

More fun weight loss tips:
Can Your Anger! Literally! CAN IT!
Make an AFFIRMATION Container and CHANGE Your Life!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

21 Tips: The Thanksgiving Survival Guide
The Thanksgiving Calorie Guide
The Thanksgiving Prayer

And today, an extra added bonus!!!!

They bring you The Thanksgiving Survival Kit!
Janice shares, “It is our intent to prepare our fans to get through Thanksgiving, the big food day, the big family day, the big ‘mom’s gonna’ push my buttons’ day,’ fully prepared and armed!”

What will you bring to Thanksgiving that can help you navigate the screaming children? What will you bring that will keep you strong and able to say ‘no thank you’ to the heavily spiked Egg Nog when the slings and arrows of miss-communication are being sent your way? Seriously?!

If you think that I’m kidding, I am NOT! I have spend an entire week on the telephone talking to Weight Loss Coaching clients who are telling it like it is. The TRUTH! Concerned that they will go on a ‘food’ bender or worse! Some are unnerved by their controlling mother-in-laws (not my daughter-in-law – by the way), some by the screaming 4 and 5 year olds; some worried that comments will be made about the way they look – good or bad – IT IS charged! The anxiety is mounting and I say get ‘thy holiday survival kit’ together!

THE THANKSGIVING SURVIVAL KIT!

1. Meditation Music. Should you feel unnerved by anyone or anything, simply slip away, iPod in hand, to the bathroom. Lock yourself in and tune in to some meditation music! Take in a few deep breaths. Return to room when you are fully charged and returned to center!

2. Lights, Action, Camera. Taking photos will not only serve to record the day for future generations, but the camera acts as a butter – oops, Freudian slip … I mean BUFFER!!! It literally puts you in a place of observation. Note all with humor! Snap away happily.

3. Recorder. Last year, my 93 year-old mother, after 3 sips of Manichewitz, revealed some very hot details from her youth. Had I only had a recorder! A golden opportunity missed to record her in all her glory and in her voice!

4. Jigsaw Puzzle. Bring a puzzle and dump it on a table in the corner of the room. You have now created the official ‘drop in’ center. Drop in and play … drop out and return to bigger group.

5. Games n’ Puzzles for the Kids. Needless to say, if you’ve got a puzzle you’re working on, the little ones are going to want to play, too. So bring games n’ puzzles up the gazoo for the kids! Keep ‘em busy and happy.

6. Hand Project. Crochet, knit, needlepoint, pen and pad … whatever! Hand projects not only keep your hands and mind away from food, but they are calming. Best anti-anxiety medicine ever!!!

7. Walking Shoes. Not only is it okay to head out for a spell and take a walk, it’s a good idea. If you need some alone time, be sure to head out alone!!! (I am giving you permission to take care of yourself!) And if you want to take the lead and invite others for a bit of fresh air, do so!

Think outside of the stuffed turkey!
What are you going to put into your Thanksgiving Survival Kit?! Pack NOW!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

If YOU Want to WAKE UP THINNER? then go to THE HOLIDAY DIET for details on the e-book, community and more!
________________________________

Does your weight loss chart look like an EKG?
In need of a coach? Write Janice!

Follow Janice on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Visit: www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com
www.JaniceTaylorLiving.com

I’m wondering? How are you going to make it through the Holiday Glaze? Might you wake up on New Year’s Day fatter than you are now? Seriously, folks! You might want to think about it now and actually ‘create’ these next few months so that they support you and your health and weight management goals. If you don’t take control now, the “Devil’s Food” will take you over!

Here, Our Lady of Weight Loss and Janice Taylor, 50 pound big-time-loser (that’s me!), share 9 tasty tips from their inspired new e-program!

“The Holiday Diet: How to WAKE UP on New Year’s Day THINNER than you are NOW!”

1. Manage your holiday expectations.
Remember … Holidays are essentially just like any other day in life. They are filled with ups, downs, glitches and unexpected happenings. Whatever your expectations might be for this holiday season, I invite you to of lower them!!! NOW! And remember … No one has read the script you’ve written for them. Nor – frankly – have you read the script they have written for you!

2. Be Yourself. Everyone else is already taken. ~ Oscar Wilde
Jot down a list of the qualities you like most about yourself and bring the list with to all holiday gatherings, in particular, family events! Read them early and often!

3. Don’t Regress. Your brother isn’t 13, and you’re not 9.
It doesn’t matter that he was bigger than you, elbowed you, teased you, took your favorite toy and smashed it! NO! It really is NOT relevant in the NOW. Let go of the past!

4. Do NOT Accept Delivery of the Family Fat Genes!
Just because your mother and your grandmother, your sisters and every female in your family (or male – if any men are out there) are fat, it doesn’t mean that you have to accept the family genes, does it?

5. Who wants to gain a pound today?
Did you know that the average Thanksgiving dinner ranges from 2,000 to 4,500 calories? Did you know that one pound equals 3,500 calories? Let’s get a grip and put calories into perspective.

6. Make Your Home Your Safe Haven.
Dump it! Sorry to shock you like that, but whatever and whenever there are leftovers, dump them immediately. Halloween candy? Dump it! Christmas cookies? Dump them!

7. Become a Foto-Food Journalist.
Bring a camera to events (again, family ones in particular!) and give yourself a journalistic assignment. Photograph the food before eating! Taking photos of the food creates an opportunity for you to pause and consider the food and your actions. Any time you can create a ‘moment to pause and reflect,’ you are practicing mindful eating. A good thing to do!

8. All or Nothing? Embrace the 80/20 plan.
Remember … No one is perfect. That’s why pencils have erasers!

9. Want Power!
There is no such thing as will power; only want power. You have to want to wake up thinner more than you want that slice of pumpkin pie! How will you exercise your want power muscle?

REMEMBER: Contrary to the agreed upon reality, you do NOT have to gain 6 or 7 pounds this holiday season. Create a new reality. Join with us as embark on The Holiday Diet! Let’s start a new tradition: WAKE UP THINNER on New Year’s Day!

Spread the Holiday Diet word … NOT the EggNog!
Janice

Laugh it up while you slim down!
Visit janice’s daily motivational musings on Beliefnet.com
Our Lady of Weight Loss… for weight loss wisdom
Janice Taylor Living … for the Freshest Fully Baked Life & Wellness Coaching

1. Sleep helps the brain commit new information into memory; therefore lack of sleep can impair learning and memory.

2. Chronic sleep deprivation affects the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and alters the levels of hormones that affect our appetite: leptin (an appetite regulating hormone), and higher levels of ghrelin (a hormone produced by the stomach that sends the ‘I’m hungry, feel me’ signal to the brain.) (leptin and ghrelin)

3. Those who are sleep deprived are more likely to be irritable, cranky, impatient, and are all in all moodier than those who sleep!

4. Sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone level and irregular heartbeats.

Now that we know how important it is to get the proper amount of sleep, here 25 tips that can help you to get a good night’s rest!

25 Fully Baked Tips to Better Sleep

1. Relieve Stress Daily. People who are stressed-out are more likely to suffer from insomnia. It’s important to explore various types of exercise, meditation, and/ or yoga so that you find the one that best helps you to relax. Have fun exploring.

2. Exercise. Follow a consistent exercise (or movement) program. It will increase your energy levels during the day, improve your mood and help to regulate your sleeping patterns at night. Remember – even 10 minutes here and there throughout the day adds up to a restful night’s sleep.

3. Exercise in the morning or afternoon. For many, working out within 3 or 4 hours of sleep can make it harder to fall asleep.

4. Light snacks. Eating a heavy meal too close to bedtime can interfere with sleep. Instead, if you are hungry, have a light snack but avoid protein-rich and caffeine containing foods and beverages.

5. Stop eating all together at least 3 hours before sleep. This will prevent heartburn, indigestion and energy boosts from the food. A good weight loss rule anyway. You’ve got to stop at some point, no?

6. Natural Root. Valerian root and Melatonin seem to be the most effective supplemental sleep aids. ALWAYS discuss dosage, risk and effectiveness with your doctor before taking.

7. Aromatherapy. Lavender and chamomile scents can be soothing and relaxing. Perhaps in spray form, or scented candle. Also, vanilla ‘kills’ appetite.

8. Eat at regular intervals during the day. This will keep your blood sugar levels even, thus keeping you alert all day and ready to sleep at night. And bonus, it will keep your ‘hunger’ in check, so that you don’t go off the deep end, into that vat of chocolate that’s calling your name!

9. Write it out. Before bed write down all your thoughts in a journal without judgment. Stream of consciousness. Let it rip and roll. It will help clear your mind, as you can close the book on the day. It works!

10. Turn off the lights. It can be difficult to sleep with the lights on. You might even want to wear a sleep mask (I have a leopard one!). Be sure to close the blinds, shades, drapes!

11. Sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends. Your body will get into its automatic rhythm.

12. Put the clock where you cannot see it. Clock watching can create anxiety.

13. For a light late night snack, try dairy products. Milk contains the sleep inducing amino acid, tryptophan. (Go organic, please! So that the milk is coming from a healthy cow … Eat Healthy: Be Political!)

14. Avoid tobacco. Tobacco products contain nicotine, a stimulant. You shouldn’t be smoking anyway (sorry, but for goodness sake!).

15. Don’t oversleep. Too much of a good thing can actually make you more tired.

16. Think positive. People who focus on the positive tend to sleep better and experience better health in general. Remember: thoughts are like the clouds; they float in and out – you don’t have to attach to them!

17. Do not hit the snooze button. Simply get up. Get up! GET UP!

18. Plan for a healthy 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Set your mind as you climb into your comfy bed.

19. Nap wisely. No more than 20 minutes. But do nap if you can!

20. Limit caffeine during the day. Try for less than 1-2 cups of caffeinated beverages during the day.

21. Schedule some down time every day. Stretch, take a hot bath, read. Stare into space!

22. Add white noise and/or wear ear plugs. Most people can’t fall asleep when things are too loud. Sometimes even the crickets are screaming.

23. Drink in moderation. Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it will likely wake you in the middle of the night.

24. Rule out medications. If you are taking medication, ask your doctor about its side effects.

25. Check the thermostat. If it’s too hot or too cold, it may be difficult to fall asleep. That’s for sure!!!

Good night!

People are often clear about a goal. At the same time, they are not clear about what achieving that goal will give them or do for them. Nor are they aware of how reaching their goals (weight loss or otherwise) will change their life as they know it.
You can achieve clarity by stating a goal.
“I want to be rich.”

Now ask yourself:
What will achieving this goal do for you?
A: It will give me financial freedom.

What will financial freedom do for you?
A: It will allow me to quit my sucky job and travel.

What will traveling do for you?
A: It will broaden my horizons.

What will broadening my horizons do for you?
A: It will make me feel better about the way I live my life.

What will making you feel better about living your life do for you?
A: It will make me feel good about myself.

What will feeling good about yourself give to you?
A: Self-confidence

What will self-confidence give to you?
A: Freedom to be me.

Get the idea? Keep digging deeper and deeper.
Toss out a couple of goals and see where it takes you!