Janice Taylor Living » Weight Loss Motivation

F*Ree Downloadable Easter Calorie Chart

jtaylor — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 01:20:11 +0000

Downloadable Easter Calorie Guide from the Patron Saint Permanent Fat Removal

Our Lady of Weight Loss, the patron saint of permanent fat removal, asked me to share with you this downloadable version of her Easter Candy Chart.

Download, print and carry with you! Make copies for your friends!!!

Spread the word … NOT the icing,

Janice Taylor
wise * fun * utterly useful

____________________________________________
For the best in wellness and weight loss wisdom, visit Janice:
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It’s TIME! Let YOUR Weight Loss Warrior Out!

jtaylor — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:57:17 +0000

I have in the past written about the difference between being assertive and aggressive – and advocated for the assertive side of life – stating that there’s no need to bring the police into the picture!!!! (Referencing an incident I had –or created, depending on your point of view – in an Italian restaurant in Little Italy, at which time I specifically said at a minimum of three times, “NO BUTTER!” Nevertheless, when served, my food was swimming in butter! It got ugly!).

However, I was WRONG. True enough, although it is the first time that I’m wrong! But I’m woman enough to admit it.

There is nothing wrong with being AGGRESSIVE. In fact, it is the RIGHT PATH!!! It is the WAY of the WEIGHT LOSS WARRIOR!!!!

AGGRESSIVE ENERGY
Aggressive energy is an essential part of being human. Aggressive energy will always be with you. It is an integral and meaningful part of you and it is up to you whether or not you use it for good or ill or even worse, deny it altogether.

When you deny aggression, you are abdicating tapping into this natural and vital well of energy and power. It is your natural resource that can make all the difference.

The aggressive energy that rumbles through you is simply the Warrior within that is thirsting to accept responsibility, wanting to come out and lead YOU to victory!

You have, in our time together, made the decision to permanently remove your excess weight; you have looked into your future; filled up on confidence; spoken words that energize and motivate; fed the soul and the body and now …

It is TIME!!! To let YOUR WARRIOR OUT!!!!

YOUR WARRIOR … gets things done!
… gives you a sense of yourself as Champion of Your Vision.
… slays the dragons of fear and doubt.
… is inspired and optimistic.
And when your warrior runs into obstacles your warrior recognizes them as tests and does not abandon her Quest …
… YOUR WARRIOR … battles on.

Your warrior … perseveres in the face of difficulties, in the face of temptation.

Good Intentions Are NOT ENOUGH. Sacrifice is necessary.

How you and your warrior bond together now will determine the outcome of your story.

Will you live your best life, or will you remain in bondage to food, emotional eating, and the circumstances that life throws in your path?

Your Warrior actually enjoys discipline, planning, and boundaries. Your Warrior does not stamp its feet and act like a 4 year-old; your warrior sees the above as opportunity to live life to the fullest.

Be a Warrior. Be a Weight Loss Warrior.

Spread the word … NOT the icing,

Janice Taylor
wise * fun * utterly useful

____________________________________________
For the best in wellness and weight loss wisdom, visit Janice:

Our Lady of Weight Loss
join the Kick in the Tush Club
Virtual Shoulder

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Facebook: www.facebook.com/OurLadyofWeightLoss

What does your ‘one nightstand’ say about you?

jtaylor — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:38:53 +0000

I’m referencing the one night-stand that sits next to your bed. The stand that you dump the contents of your day onto before you drift off to sleep. The stand that holds your eyeglasses, your meds, your alarm clock, the book(s) you are reading, maybe your laptop, your cell phone, your landline, a pad, a pen or two, your watch, your rings, a glass of water, a glass of wine, your peace pipe, your sex toys, sugary snacks, crunchy snacks, full meals, and maybe a statue of the Buddha. And let’s not forget all our sleep paraphernalia, including eye masks, aromatherapy candles, sound machines, sleeping potions and sleeping pills.

What does your one night-stand say about you and about your quality of sleep?

As Dr. Rubin Naiman, sleep specialist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine, explained at the Weil on Wellness Immersion Program at Miraval Resort Spa, so aptly put it … “If sleep is a nightly get-away, then the nightstand is the overnight bag we carry at our side. We can learn a lot about a person and their travels by examining their bags.

“What’s on your night-stand? Is it suggestive of a rejuvenating personal retreat? Or, is it more about a stressful business trip?”

Dr. Naiman’s “one night stand” concept instantaneously captured my imagination! And from the sounds of the gasps, the aHA and light-bulb moments popping throughout the room, I was not alone. An intriguing and simple visual that tells me with certainty what I am dragging with me throughout the day and straight into the night.

Hungry for more insights on what my nightstand says about me, and curious how I can have a more restful and rejuvenating sleep, I caught up with Dr. Naiman post-conference for a most soporific conversation.

JT: How might the contents of our ‘nighttime baggage’ interfere with a good night’s sleep? What does it matter?

RN: Take a closer look at what’s on your nightstand. Ask yourself if these things encourage a natural surrender to sleep or keep you subtly tethered to the world of waking.

Things that keep you connected to waking such as clocks, lamps, radios, computers and telephones, as well as energy spiking foods, substances and information have no place on an overnight sleep retreat.

The ubiquitous digital clock, for example, can draw us back into the waking world of time.

JT: If one is ‘out,’ how does it specifically draw us back into our waking world? And retreat? Am I really going on an overnight retreat?

RN: The depth to which we will go ‘out’ depends on our willingness to let go of the waking world. It’s nearly impossible to resist the temptation of checking the time when we can’t sleep. But, doing so draws us into even greater wakefulness. To make matters worse, both the light and the electromagnetic field radiating from such a device suppresses melatonin, further compromising our sleep and overall health. Best to get the thing away from your head and your bed.

JT: Melatonin?

RN: Melatonin is a complex neuro-hormone synthesized from serotonin — primarily in the pineal gland or “third eye”-when we are exposed to dim light or darkness. I think of melatonin as the queen of our nighttime biology. It gently but decidedly ushers our bodies, brains and minds into sleep and dreams.

Melatonin has been touted as a miracle substance. As a key player in our night biology, it regulates circadian rhythms, facilitates sleep, and promotes dreaming. Melatonin is also involved in the regulation of a wide range of hormones and neurotransmitters and functions as a potent antioxidant. Beyond its usefulness in managing jet lag, circadian rhythm disorders and insomnia, a growing body of research is finding that melatonin shows promise in treating diverse conditions like hypertension, premenstrual syndrome, macular degeneration and even certain cancers.

JT: Do you take melatonin?

RN: I personally have been taking a small dose of melatonin nightly for nearly 20 years. I don’t do so to help with my sleep. I take it because I believe that like most people, I am overexposed to light at night. I use a .5 mg sublingual and sustained release preparation of melatonin. Sublingual means that it dissolves under the tongue. This carries the melatonin directly into the bloodstream before it can be filtered out by the liver. And a sustained release preparation will remain active throughout most of the night, in contrast to standard melatonin which has a very short half life.

To date, melatonin has a good safety profile. Much better than most popular sleeping pills. Still, it is generally not recommended for use in children and during pregnancy. Melatonin may exacerbate nighttime asthma and, possibly, certain autoimmune conditions. Its always wise to talk with a knowledgeable physician before embarking upon supplementation.

JT: During your talk at The Weil for Wellness Immersion at Miraval Resort Spa, you mentioned that our nightstands reflect our personal stance toward sleep and that we are all too frequently ‘desperate’ for sleep.

RN: Yes, when faced with the prospect of yet another bad night, many of us will do whatever it takes to make it through the night. Whether it’s about overeating or relying on alcohol or sleeping pills, such a one night stand approach ultimately backfires. It erodes our belief in our own natural ability to surrender to sleep.

JT: Overeating? Do you mean that people get up in the middle of the night and graze, snack or binge as a way to get back to sleep?

RN: Because eating triggers a relaxation response that temporarily sooths anxiety, food can readily become a kind of drug we depend on to get to sleep. Unfortunately, sleeplessness can readily become entangled with a number of eating disorders. Although sleep and eating are both nourishing, in one respect, they are opposites. Eating energizes us. Sleep is about relinquishing energy. We don’t sleep in our refrigerators. We shouldn’t eat in bed.

Ultimately, we need to think in terms of developing a sustainable relationship with sleep. Consider developing a personal, soothing evening ritual under gentle low-blue lighting. This might include a warm bath, some yoga or stretching, meditation or prayer, and some light or even lighthearted reading. And always, in the end, it’s about surrendering to sleep.

JT: Thank you Dr. Naiman. Fantastic! Any final thoughts for our readers?

RN: Yes. I think it’s helpful to reflect on this simple truth: We are all always already asleep. What I mean by this is that sleep is the foundation of all consciousness. It’s always present beneath our waking. And because we’re already there, we literally can’t ‘go to sleep.’ Trying to do so will only further activate the wakeful part of us. What we can do, of course, is learn to let go of waking and practice surrendering to sleep.

For more on restful and rejuvenating sleep visit Dr. Rubin Naiman: www.DrNaiman.com

And be sure to order your copy of The Yoga of Sleep. Highly recommended!

Spread the word … NOT the icing,

Janice Taylor
wise * fun * utterly useful
____________________________________________
For the best in wellness and weight loss wisdom, visit Janice:
Our Lady of Weight Loss
join the Kick in the Tush Club
Virtual Shoulder

Follow Janice Taylor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/OurLady
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OurLadyofWeightLoss

Rise and Grind Wednesday: Caffeine and Sugar Improve Memory?

jtaylor — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:01:24 +0000

Dig it! Scientists recently found that sweetened, caffeinated coffee not only gives you an energy boost to prepare you for your busy day, but it can also help you to remember by boosting cognitive performance.

The golden, sugary, yum delicious nugget of this research showed that when caffeine and sugar are taken together, they help boost the brain’s performance, as compared when they are ingested separately.

The research was conducted at the University of Barcelona, Spain, and it included conducting brain scans of 40 volunteers. The volunteers were tested after they consumed coffee with sugar, coffee without sugar, just plain sugar and just plain water.

The findings showed that when these two substances – caffeine and sugar – when taken together, improved brain performance. The combo increased the efficiency of two regions of the brain; regions that are responsible for sustained attention and working memory.

(Source: journal of Human Psycho-pharmacology: Clinical and Experimental)

While this may be exciting for us caffeine and sugar lovers, remember – there are 16 calories per teaspoon of sugar. This ‘news’ by no means gives license to over-indulging and creating a sugar high.

Nevertheless, I am going to purposefully enjoy my teaspoon of sugar soaked in coffee this morning.

More Coffee News:
Coffee and Aspirin Cure
Fast Weight Loss and Coffee!!!

Spread the word … NOT the icing,

Follow Janice Taylor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/OurLady
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Does Daylight Savings Time Make YOU Fat???

jtaylor — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:59:20 +0000

With the exception of the State of Arizona and parts of Indiana, on this Sunday, March 13th at 2:00 am, we set our clocks ahead to enjoy an additional hour of daylight.

How will you utilize your extra hour; the hour that you will have ‘gained’ this weekend?

Will you shake off your tale feathers and take a long walk in the ‘light?’ Will you spend an extra hour decluttering, giving your spring cleaning plan a kick in the tush?

Will you allow the ‘light’ to shine bright or will you set your dials to dim?

How will you ’spend’ your extra hour? Will you kick start Spring by springing into action, sending your ‘upward spiral’ into motion? How will you fuel your inner fire? Those parts of you that are hibernating?

1. Gardening? There is magic in ‘dirt.’
2. Taking a long walk around the park?
3. Sitting on a mountain top?
4. Calling old friends?
5. Chanting Om?
6. Contemplating your navel?
7. Sitting on the porch, rocking back n’ forth?
8. Cleaning out the fridge?
9. Sleeping In or stretching it out?
10. Jumping high or laying low?

How will you set your ‘upward spiral’ in motion?
Please ‘weigh-in’ below!

Spread the word … NOT the icing,

Follow Janice Taylor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/OurLady
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Chewing the Fat: My Husband Left Me for a Younger Woman

jtaylor — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 02:33:48 +0000

Dear Our Lady of Weight Loss ~ My husband left me for another woman two years ago, and I’ve been divorced for a year now.

In 1992, I started working with a man named Bob, to whom I was very much attracted…..honestly. And, yes, it was mutual. Nothing came of it, as we were both married. I haven’t seen Bob in almost 15 years. At that time I was 40 years old, and weighed 125 lbs. and at the risk of sounding immodest, I was pretty darn cute. Now … fast forward … 15 years later, and I weigh 185, and at the risk of sounding pathetic, I am fat and frumpy.

Bob and I have rekindled our friendship on the Internet. We talk on the phone and exchange e-mails daily. We’re both single now, and he’s coming to visit me on in 4 weeks.

I desperately want to see him, but I fear he’ll be repelled by my appearance. I know I can’t lose 60 lbs in under a month, but I’d like to lose as much weight as is realistically possible.

What can I do? I’m so paralyzed with fear, I’m thinking of calling off our date. ~ Thanks, Linda

***

Dear Linda ~ First let’s talk self-esteem, photos and then realistic weight loss … and then what to do. Okay? Okay!!!

Self-Esteem: Are you judging yourself solely based on your weight? Please, right now write down at least 10 great things about yourself and keep the list going. When a person is comfortable in their own skin (no matter the weight of the skin); when a person loves themselves, they ooze confidence, which is definitely attractive.

Photos: Have you seen a recent photo of Bob? 15 years is quite a while and I’m betting he’s changed, too, in more ways than one. Maybe you won’t like him. Just a thought.

Bottom line: I invite you to consider if he is worthy of you!

Weight loss: If you were to be on a say, a healthy weight loss plan, you would max lose 2 pounds per week. When I permanently removed over 50 pounds, I averaged about 1 pound per week, even in the beginning. Slow n’ steady always wins the weight loss race.

Bottom line: Are you losing weight so Bob will like you? Or, are you losing it for you? If you want to embark on a healthy living plan for YOU, let’s set up an appointment for a free consultation.

What to do? Breathe first, always. Deep cleansing breaths. Have an honest conversation (but not a self-deprecating conversation) and send him a recent photo. If Bob says he doesn’t want to see you because you are on the chubby side, so be it. His loss. Do, however, make it a good photo J Hair, make-up and an outfit that fits.

TIP: Always wear clothes that fit. No matter your size. It is KEY to looking great. And in my book, All Is Forgiven, Move On: Our Lady of Weight Loss’s 101 Fat Burning Steps to Sveltesville, there is an entire STEP dedicated to what to wear to look thinner! Not that thin is the beat all, end all. It’s only a little slice of the pie.

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
~ Our Lady of Weight Loss

Cook with Me Friday: Eggplant Hummus

jtaylor — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:08:56 +0000

Today, I am excited to bake up and blend up an amazingly delicious, healthy dish for a couple of reasons.

Not only is this recipe easy to make and overflowing with nutrients, it is made with eggplant – a vegetable. And just today, yet another study reported that Americans are not eating enough vegetables.

Did you know that a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables will not only help reduce the risk of many leading causes of death, but that it will also help you to manage your weight?

Here’s to your health and happiness! Eat up!

Eggplant Hummus!

Ingredients:
Olive Oil
1 medium eggplant, sliced in half the long way
1 cup garbanzo beans (a.k.a. chick peas)
1/3 cup liquid from can (approx. – if it’s too thick, add more liquid)
2 tablespoons Sesame Tahini
2 tablespoons juice from freshly squeezed lemon
6 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt n’ pepper to taste

Directions:
Rub olive oil on eggplant; on outer skin and the inner part.
Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about an hour (until soft)
Remove, cool, remove skin (eat it if you like … but don’t put it in the blender)
Blend in all ingredients on high until creamy smooth delish!

Dip your carrots in it; make a sandwich with it.
What a wonderful way to weigh less as you add more to your healthy menu.

Enjoy!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!

Janice

Feng Shui Thursday: Is Your Kitchen Making You Fat?

jtaylor — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:02:57 +0000

According to the ancient Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui, your kitchen is the central part of your home that provides nourishment and sustains life. Therefore, it is the most important area in your home. In addition to having a profound effect on your health, the kitchen is a symbol of wealth and prosperity.

Given the importance of this room on our overall wellness, as well as our healthy weight, I thought I’d share a few Feng Shui facts that may motivate you to close your computer and head straight into your kitchen to clean it up and then stock it up with the right stuff!

Are you ready to get energized?

1. The Food: In order for the food to provide you with high energy, you need to choose healing foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, raw nuts, and organic meats. In other words, no ‘junk food’ or processed foods.

In theory, you may already know this, but do you live by it?

2. Well-Nourished People: Nutritionally friendly folk who have ingested foods that are high in nutrients, are not only going to have more and better energy, but they are more likely to excel in their careers and relationships. It makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?

3. Prosperity: The more effective a person, the more likely they will achieve financial success.

4. Harmonious Space: In addition, the foods need to be prepared in a well-organized, harmonious space. Your kitchen needs to have a balanced flow of energy moving through it. Take that pile of trays and bowls off the top of the fridge and put them away! Declutter the countertops.

5. Happy Chef: If your kitchen is clean and organized, the chef is likely to be happy (or happier) and his or her cooking with be infused with happy, strong, good energy.

Review:
Stock up on the good stuff.
Declutter and clean your kitchen.
Smile while cooking!

And health, wealth and happiness will be yours!
Yes, it’s that simple!!!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

11 Eating Styles: What does yours say about you?

jtaylor — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:54:51 +0000

According to Our Lady of Weight Loss, the patron saint of permanent fat removal, she who has devoted a great deal of time to examining the way in which people eat, there are 10 basic eating styles – from Gulp n’ Go to Totally Beige to the Food Architect.

What’s your eating style? What does your eating ’style’ say about you? Perhaps it’s time to take a look at our methodology and make some adjustments!!!

Our Lady of Weight Loss’s Top 11 Eating Styles – yes, I did say that there are 10, but here, today, Our Lady of Weight Loss, the patron saint of permanent fat removal is suggesting an 11th!

1. The Unconscious Eater: If you find yourself covered in cookie crumbs, and do not have any memory of eating cookies, you are an UNCONSCIOUS EATER. WAKE UP! Be in the here and now.

2. Gulp n’ Go: Are you always on the run, doing the ole’ GULP n’ GO? Sit down and take a moment. Please.

3. Food Architect: You are a FOOD ARCHITECT if you sculpt mountains of mashed potatoes, arrange broccoli in and around them like trees, and layer slices of meat until you’ve created a high-rise apartment building. While I admire your creativity, play with Legos instead!

4. Assembly-Line Eater: You are an ASSEMBLY-LINE EATER if you load-up another fork full while still chewing. Put the fork down in between bites.

5. Never Say, “No, Thank You.”: Do you have a NEVER SAY, “NO, THANK YOU” policy in place? Afraid you might offend someone? Time for a re-write.

6. If It’s FREE, It’s for ME: Do you exclaim, “IF IT’S FREE, IT’S FOR ME!” when you see free food tastings and samplings at the supermarket? Eat before food shopping and recommit to your goals before you head out.

7. Closet Eater: You are a CLOSET EATER if you keep a mini-fridge in your coat closet and visit it nightly. Come on out of the closet and join the rest of us. It’s safe out here.

8. Speed Eater: If your friends suggest that you challenge the Japanese world speed-eating champion who swallowed a total of 53 1/2 hot dogs, and their accompanying buns, in just 12 minutes, then you are a SPEED EATER. I’m gagging just thinking about it.

9. Beige-Eater: If potatoes, pasta and mac and cheese are your main stay, then you are a BEIGE-eater. Add red peppers, strawberries, green beans, and bright blueberries to your palate . . . NOW.

10. Fried: You are FRIED if you think ‘fried’ is a food group. Now you know better!

And now, on behalf of Our Lady of Weight Loss, I would like to introduce an 11th Style of Eating, coming to you at the 11th hour, so to speak.

11. Healthy, Plain n’ Simple: Just for a moment try on ‘Healthy’ as your eating style! How does it fit? Most people do not ingest enough vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals on a daily basis. Because our nutrient needs are not met, we lose control and cravings kick in.

Healthy isn’t complicated. In fact, it’s simple. All you need to do is eat more – more fruits and vegetables – more colorful plants. Not only will you lose weight; your health will also dramatically improve.

Here’s some food for thought!

2/3 of Americans are overweight
1/3 of Americans are classified as morbidly obese
50 percent of Americans die of heart attacks and strokes
28 million Americans suffer from the crippling pain of osteoarthritis
35 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches (source: Joel Fuhrman, M.D., author of Eat for Health)

Take one step toward health. Try on ‘healthy’. Eat more! Fruits and vegetables.
Slim down while you live it up!

Spread the healthy word … NOT the icing!
Janice

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visit: Our Lady of Weight Loss
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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.