Janice Taylor Living » Mental Health

Balanced Life: How to Swab Down the Mental Decks

jtaylor — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:36:08 +0000

The winter is over (hip hip hooray), and I’ve started my spring cleaning! I’m not just cleaning out the closets and sweeping the tumbleweed dust balls from under the bed but also working on my clutter filled mind. Yup, my mind is filled with an assortment of – for want of a better word – crap that is blocking my energy, my focus – even my resolve.

Want to swab down the mental decks with me? Clean out the guilt, regret, anger, worry and who knows what else that is crammed into the corners of our minds? These thoughts are affecting our physical well-being, as well as zapping our energy. Cleaning out the cobwebs frees us up for productive thoughts, allows our ideas to flow easily and creates luscious feelings of spaciousness.

Step One: FORGIVENESS. Forgive someone else and/or yourself. Be merciful. Clean out the anger, jealousy, self-doubt. If it is not possible to make amends with another (or self), in your mind’s eye imagine filling up a dump truck with these pieces of anger, slices of jealousy, remnants of self-doubt, and take them and leave them at the junk heap in the sky. Take Our Lady of Weight Loss’s motto is “All Is Forgiven, Move On” to heart. Forgive and move on.

Step Two: LET GO OF THE PAST. Move into the present. If you are reliving your yesterdays, you are missing your todays. Stop for a moment. Take in a deep breath and on the out breath, let go of the past. Ahhhh.

Step Three: ATTITUDINAL ADJUSTMENT. Start with feelings of gratitude. Practice giving instead of taking; share and share some more. Simply experience the blue sky, the green grass, the joy of just being alive.

Step Four: LIGHTEN UP. Laugh it up, lighten your thoughts. Make time for fun each and every day.

How might you lighten your mental load?

Spread the word … NOT the icing,

Janice Taylor
wise * fun * utterly useful

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Is your Mouth of Chi blessed or blocked?

jtaylor — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:31:03 +0000

The Mouth of Chi* is a term used in Feng Shui*. It references your front door, the primary point of entry into your home (or office or cubicle), whether you favor that door or another. The Mouth of Chi is much like our physical mouth.

Both The Mouth of Chi and your physical mouth are points of entry; both serve as boundaries between “inner” and “outer” worlds. The Mouth of Chi is where energy, people and opportunity enter your home. Your physical mouth takes in food, air, and energy (chi).

If your Mouth of Chi is blocked, cluttered or just plain messy, it can block you from moving forward in life. It can have a negative effect. If it is bright, well lit, cheery and full of positive energy, your life is more likely to flow in a positive way. Good fortune, blessings and opportunities will be yours.

When you fill your physical mouth with unhealthy foods, too much food, or bad air, it will block your energy and have a negative effect on your body. In addition, if you don’t take care of all that is in your mouth (gums, teeth, tongue, et al.), or if your words are peppered with negativity, another type of block will form, and yes – your energy and life flow will be compromised.

Prior to learning about the Mouth of Chi, I confess that I hadn’t give much thought to the importance of ‘point of entry,’ nor had I even considered my physical mouth an entry point or boundary between the ‘inner’ and the ‘outer.’ Now, however, having a different level of awareness, I can’t help but to be mindful and give more thought and meaning to what I put in my mouth and what comes out of it. And you?

Speak right. Eat right. Smile.
Keep your points of entry clean and well lit.

Evolve. Don’t just improve …
Janice

What’s your FAT Story? And … how do you know it’s true?

jtaylor — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:41:27 +0000

Yesterday, I was talking with my new client, Donna*, gathering a bit of background information – her address, phone numbers, email – seriously, nothing ‘heavy,’ just her contact info, at which time, she emphatically blurted out, “I love to cook for my family for the holidays and I’m not giving it up. My mother didn’t cook or bake for us during the holidays when I was a kid, and I’d always wanted her to. So, I cook up and bake up a storm each and every year for my family, and I am not going to stop! My kids, my husband, everyone – they love it. And, I repeat, I am not giving it up!”

“Oh … Okay,” I replied.

Believe me, I had no intentions of asking Donna to give up anything. Far be it from me to ‘take away’ her family’s gastronomically driven happiness or strip her of her identity as the fabulously, wonderful mother whose sweet potato pie and potato pancakes are to die for.

For the record, I am not the food police. Nor, I am in the habit of asking people to give up anything; much less cart away the foods that they think/feel make them the happiest.

Au contraire, I take nothing away! I am all about adding to your life; helping to bring out the best in you, supporting you in finding ways to add copious amounts of health and happiness to add to your daily platter.

Once I fully explained my position, Donna settled in and over the course of the conversation, she said, “I am really annoyed at my son. I asked him if he remembers the wonderful holidays that we’ve shared, and the delicious foods that I whipped up over the years, and he couldn’t remember not even one dish.”

With heaps of loving-kindness and sincere compassion, I gently brought Donna’s attention to the contradiction. I asked, “Donna, why do you think is it that your son can’t recall any of the dishes?”

“Because,” she slowly said, “the food isn’t important to him.” Allowing Donna a moment or two of silence to chew over her thoughts, we sat in silence until she was ready to continue. “Oh my, the only one who deeply cares about the food is me.”

And there you have it. The lid had been removed from that pot. Donna realized that she had more or less painted a Norman Rockwell fantasy. She had woven a beautiful story around the foods that she loves, making it all right for her to cook, serve and eat them. She was being her own ‘good mother,’ giving herself what she’d wished for as a child.

Still, whether or not Donna changes her holiday cooking habits is up to her. Again, I take away nothing from no one!

I am here to do the heavy lifting. The lifting of the lids that cover beliefs and stories that are no longer useful or even true.

Evolve. Don’t just improve.

Janice

*The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
And yes, permission granted by client to use story.

Chilean Quake Shifts Earth’s Axis – Shorter Days Ahead

jtaylor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:54:23 +0000

Just yesterday while discussing global warming, the end of winter, and the beginning of spring, I was remembering “Midnight Sun,” one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes.

The Plot: A woman (Lois Nettleton) tries to survive as the earth hurtles toward the sun. Needless to say, it was a chilling episode, and its end twist even more disturbing!

Now, fast forward to this morning’s headlines:
NASA scientists reported that the massive earthquake that hit Chile (magnitude 8.8) on Saturday, appears to have shifted the Earth’s axis, thus shortening our days. According to early calculations, 1.26 microseconds shorter.

Earthquakes shift massive amounts of rock and therefore, alter the distribution of mass on the planet, thus changing the planet’s rotation rate. The rotation rate determines the length of the day.

A microsecond is one-millionth of a second. Clearly, a 1.26 microsecond shift is not the end of the world, but still – rather disconcerting – no? And for us nighttime eaters, every microsecond counts!

For more on nighttime eating! …
10 Ways to Curb, Control & Conquer Your Nighttime Eating
Mindless eating occurs primarily at night, after dinner, when – after a long, sometimes difficult day – you sit down and relax. What to do? Understand it and plan for it!

Here, Janice Taylor, Weight Loss Coach and Our Lady of Weight Loss, the patron saint of permanent fat removal (she who guides her), give you:

10 Ways to Curb, Conquer and Control Nighttime Eating

1. Awareness First. Nighttime is often a vulnerable time of day. You might be tired. You may have said, “No, thank you,” numerous times throughout your day, and you’re worn down. It could be, more likely than not, that this is the first time that you are able to focus on your personal life and it’s bringing up anxiety. Know that you are not alone. We could all (me especially) blow a day of healthful eating within 10 minutes of nighttime snacking! Just knowing what to expect is helpful. … READ ON!

Join with me at Omega:
Our Lady of Weight Loss EnLIGHTens; Health, Happiness & Well-Being

Janice Taylor, a 55-pound big-time-loser, wants to forever change the way we experience health, wellness, dieting, food, and ourself. She has a mission: to make health and weight loss fun and create balance and harmony in our life. … READ ON!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

Dr. Seuss Birthday: 10 Quotes, Green Eggs and More to Simply Make You Roar!

jtaylor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:19:46 +0000

In celebration and with great elation,
I researched high and low, left and right
to find quotes that might take flight.

Quotes that delight my fancy,
Even though my name’s not Nancy!

In addition, I include a recipe that feeds the soul,
made of green stuff minus the mold!

A video too meant to get you through
feeling anew, without further ado,
and a yuzz-a-muzz-tuzz to you!

My Top 10 Dr. Seuss Quotes

1. Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.

2. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.

3. From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

4. I’m sorry to say so but, sadly it’s true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you!

5. My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It’s the letter I use spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz. You’ll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond ‘Z’ and start poking around!

6. So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.

7. And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed.

8. Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky!

9. From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

10. If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.

Green Eggs and Ham a la Our Lady of Weight Loss (my muse)
who Leaves No Moss!
as she Walks Her Talk!

Ingredients:
non-stick spray
4 slices of Ham (turkey ham, organic!)
1 egg
4 egg whites
1 tablespoon 2% milk
1 drop of green food coloring!
salt n’ pepper to taste

Instructions:
Spray non-stick on large frying pan
Heat over medium heat
Toss ham slices on pan and brown until edges are slightly crisp
Remove ham from the pan * set aside. …
THEN: in a medium sized mixing bowl, combine: eggs, milk, salt and pepper.
Beat with whisk until frothy.
Add drop of green food coloring (or two depending on how green you want to make it!)
Spray pan again; heat.
Add egg mixture to pan.
Stir the egg mixture with a spatula. Yup, scramble ‘em!
Transfer eggs to plate.
Place ham on plate!
Serve with whole wheat toast and orange juice!

A fantastically fun, healthy and happy birthday celebration!
Serves 4.

I invite you to rhyme Dr. Seuss style with me, today (or every day!).
Please leave your poems, rhymes and fun comments below.

Spread the word … NOT the icing,
Janice

Become a fan!!! Please! See link above.
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For the best wellness and weight loss wisdom,
visit Janice’s daily motivational musings on Beliefnet.com
Our Lady of Weight Loss…for weight loss wisdom.
And … join the Kick in the Tush Club!

National Hug Day – the Rules for a Full Frontal Hug

jtaylor — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:13:06 +0000

Today is National Hugging Day! I’ve already hugged three people! And in doing so, I realized that hugging is a bit more complex than just grabbing someone and squeezing! Not everyone welcomes a full frontal hug! Go figure.

Anyway, if you are thinking about participating in this national holiday, “Hugging Day,” then there are some rules that you definitely will want to follow!

The RULES of HUGGING!

1. Oral Hygiene:
When was the last time you brushed your teeth? Gargled? Flossed?
What did you last eat? Is the smell of onion still lingering? Please, Good Oral Hygiene is an absolute must!

2. Body Hygiene:
Do you smell good?
Did you workout and you’re all sweaty? No sweats please!

3. Eye Contact:
You definitely want to make eye contact with someone before you hug it out! Friendly hugs require a brief eye-to-eye. Romantic hugs require a long-lasting simmer.

4. The Gentle Lean:
Best to lean in gently and slowly as you wrap your arms around the ‘huggee,’ lest you overwhelm them.

5. The Positioning of the Arms:
Above or below the other person’s arms. Needless to say, if their arms are hanging by their sides, get out quick.

6. No Squishing, No Bear Hugs:
Remember, this is a gentle, sweet hug. Firm is one thing, but squishing is another! And bear hugs … for goodness sake, we’re not trying to knock the breath out of eachother!

7. No Back Patting:
Back patting can lead to burping and it’s just not good feng shui. Breaks the loving energy!

8. Body Language:
Pay attention to your huggee’s body language. When they begin to let go, you let go as well. Not to worry, this is not the last hug ever!

Enjoy your day!

More De’lite’ful Spot On Skinny News from Our Lady of Weight Loss!
How to GET RID of DEAD WEIGHT!!!
7 Tips: Stressed to Refreshed!
Are YOU Desensitizing the Word of God?

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice
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Does your weight loss chart look like an EKG?
In need of a coach? Write Janice!

Follow Janice on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Join the Our Lady of Weight Loss’s Kick in the Tush Club: Beliefnet Chapter.

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

National Popcorn Day – Make a popcorn frame!

jtaylor — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:38:35 +0000

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

The Holiday Diet: How to Be a Happy Idiot!

jtaylor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:51:49 +0000

Woo Hoo, I am so excited to be alive!!! Well – the truth of the matter is this…

This morning, just as my eyes were fluttering their way to open, in that moment between sleep and wake, I tuned into my thoughts and heard myself say “Crap, it’s time to get up.”

I know from experience (as I’m sure we all do) that when we start the day on a ‘crappy’ note, it makes it that much more difficult to muster up enough energy to make the best choices, food or otherwise!

So … in that moment of hearing myself ‘crap out,’ I turned it around.
I remembered that – for starters – I am alive! Blessed with yet another beautiful fall day in NYC. Happy to write you! I made a mental note of 5 things that I am genuinely grateful for, and my energy began to bubble up happy.

And then … I tuned into the most delightful video: “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” from Ren & Stimpy, featuring the best ever Monty Python song.

Joyously, can I now report to you that I am officially a happy idiot! I invite you to join with me!

Three Easy Steps: How to Be a Happy Idiot!
1. Think a happy thought.
2. Look at the bright side of life.
3. Watch this video. Again!

Seriously, it’s relatively easy to change your mind, your point of view, your thoughts, your feelings. The more difficult part is to remember to do so!

How will you remember to wake up happy?
Weigh-in below!

More Happy News:
10 Tips: Happier and Thinner
20 Quick and Simple Weight Loss Tips
Unexplained Phenomenon: YOUR Appetite

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!

The Holiday Diet: How to Wake Up THINNER!

jtaylor — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:00:32 +0000

The holiday season is fast approaching as evidenced by the displays of Halloween Candy on each and every counter top in America. As we all know all too well, the holidays present a multitude of stresses that together can create the perfect ‘fat’ storm. Of course, front and center, the main event of the season is the food! Ever-present platters of holiday cheer in one form or another, enticing, calling your name day-in, day-out, morning, noon and night from Halloween through the New Year.

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

Gods, Girls and Artichokes (recipe included)

jtaylor — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:31:14 +0000

According to Aegean myth, the first artichoke was a divine young woman who lived on the island of Zinari. One day the Greek god, Zeus, visited his brother Poseidon (God of the Sea). (They were some powerful family.)

Zeus emerged from the sea to discover a beautiful young mortal woman. She did not seem frightened by him or seem to notice that he was a god. Zeus, naturally, took full advantage of the opportunity and seduced her. Her name was Cynara, and it all ‘went’ so well that he decided to make her a goddess. This would enable her to live near to his home on Mt. Olympus. (Long distance romance was not his thing.)

Cynara agreed. Zeus had a plan. He thought that whenever his wife Hera was away, he’d get together with Cynara. However, Cynara soon became homesick. She missed her mother, so she slipped back to the earth for a short but meaningful visit with the mortals. When she returned, it was quite apparent that she had a new attitude. Zeus wasn’t particularly happy with her un-goddess-like behavior. He threw a fit and tossed her back to earth, and he changed her into the plant that we now call the artichoke.

The Modern Day Artichoke:
The artichoke is a part of the thistle group; a member of the sunflower family. The plant can reach heights of three to four feet, and its diameter can cover a six foot area. The “vegetable” we eat is actually the plant’s flower bud, and if allowed to flower, a gorgeous violet-blue blossom will present itself.

Artichokes are available twelve months a year, but their peak season is spring and fall. Most artichokes are grown in France, Italy, and Spain, but California farms nearly 100 percent of the United States’ crop. Baby artichokes are a smaller version of the larger artichokes. The flowers buds are picked from the lower part of the plant, where they receive less sun, which therefore stunts their growth.

Recent German studies indicate that artichoke extract lowers cholesterol.

Artichoke Salad

Ingredients:
2- 6 ounce cans chunk light tuna in water
1- 16-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup chopped black olives
1/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in bowl. Mix with enthusiasm. Enjoy!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice