1. They found the risk of depression was 30%+ higher when subjects ate a diet of refined foods as contrasted with those eating a traditional Mediterranean diet.

Inverse dose-response relationships were found for fruit and nuts, monounsaturated — to saturated- fatty-acids ratio, and legumes.
Sánchez-Villega, A et al. (2009). Association of the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern With the Incidence of Depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 6, 10.

2. They report two diet patterns: high vegetables, fish, and fruits, associated with less depression. The other pattern, Processed foods:  heavily loaded by sweetened desserts, fried food, processed meat, refined grains and high-fat dairy products associated with a higher  risk of depression.
Akbaraly, TM et al. (2009) Dietary pattern and depressive symptoms in middle age. The British Journal of Psychiatry 195: 408-413

An older but interesting study:

This was a double blind study of prisoners who either got fish oil caps and a multivitamin or a placebo oil / dummy vitamin. Within two weeks, the prisoners on the active vitamins and fish oil had 31% fewer fights.
Gesch, C. B. et al. (2002) Influence of supplementary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids on the antisocial Behaviour of young adult prisoners. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, 181, 22, 28.

OK so you ate too much, made inappropriate choices, or skipped your exercise routine.

How long did your dragon inner critic rear its ugly head as it bit off yours? Time to put a muzzle on that nasty little inside devil and cut yourself some slack.

OMG, have you ever sent a sensitive email to the wrong person?

Or worse yet, sent a private email to a whole group?

YIKES! Head hung in shame, I admit I have done both.

And why did one of them have to do with a private health issue my friend wanted kept confident? Guess what. The whole group rallied around my friend. She had so many people praying for her! She was a dear and forgave me immediately. I,on the other hand, beat myself up royally. To what avail?

What is done is done. You can’t go back in time. Cut yourself some slack.

Life is learning, and most importantly, learning to love yourself. Forgiving yourself and move on. Write your name on a helium balloon with the words, “I forgive ME!” Take it outside and launch it off. Along with your shame.

Bill Gates is right: “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning”.

Even if the most unhappy customer is YOU!

My mind today was like a long shopping list: Three clients to coach, two tce Blog Radio talk shows to record, (I’ll let you know when they will be aired in Aug.), several recent coaching recordings to listen to (gotta keep up with trends), articles to write for both my web sites, my desk begging to be cleaned off, my paperwork to file,etc. And my son, Sean, is coming home from Milwaukee. Goody. But what am I going to make for supper? Whew! But I smile, as everyday is like this.

My brain is racing at the starting gate ready to run today’s race! But the race to where? When your brain is in overdrive, do you run to the fridge to see what’s in there. Do you still need to fight with yourself about what to eat? Or when? Or how much? Do you fear the scale’s wicked numbers? Have you gained weight back after bariatric surgery?

I hope bariatric surgery has been your God-send. But maybe you’ve had a round with dumping syndrome. Or needed the, excuse me, puke bucket. You sure as heck don’t want to risk these unseemly adventures again.

Does too much emotion drive your car to your old fast food haunt? Even thought your mind knows better?

What do you do to quiet your mind? Especially if it tells you to put on the feed bag.

OK, let’s tame your emotional tiger. Use your head to get you moving away from the fridge.

HARNESS YOUR STRENGTHS!

Want to know more about strengths?  More tips on how to how to use your specific strengths -sign up for my newsletter now. More terrific tips to tip the scales in your favor. And that’s is where I really let the fun rip.

Have a bariatric BEST SELF day!

In the Psychological Review journal all the back to 1982, the behavior theorist Bandura proposed that people administered rewards and punishments to themselves in an attempt to control their behavior.

Think about food. Who hasn’t rewarded herself with a food treat? Life wouldn’t be so fun if we didn’t. And that is surely not always a bad thing. We absolutely do need to celebrate once in awhile. But here comes the kicker.

What happens to you when you use food for your biggest reward most of the time? Bet you’ve already been down that street. Emotional, compulsive, and binge eating are there right around every corner. Then the ate-too much-guilt-eat again cycle. Does that sound like celebrating to you?

But you’ve had bariatrics. It will help you quit this cycle, right?

Tell me it ain’t so…But not necessarily.

Surgery may help cravings, help you to feel full, etc., and get you on the road to quick bye bye weight success.

But you are emotionally addicted to food, your brain has a memory. Full or not full, you may still want and feel the need to eat. Or angry, frustration, and disappointment was rear their ugly little heads.

Like Janie. She was happily losing weight after her surgery. Then he mom was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Janie was her caregiver, and she felt alone. Food had always been her friend, or so she thought. But does a true friend ruin your life? She turned to food for comfort, and her Lap-Band couldn’t hold in her tears or sadness. And her weight crept back on.

Your emotional self needs to be coached HOW to combat these urges. So what to do?

Game plan:

• Get a bariatric surgery coach to support your efforts
• Commit to losing weight and do not depend on surgery.
• Journal your BEST SELF positive attributes. Review them everyday.
• Meditate, pray, or get out your inspirational readings. Read them out loud.

Also give these a whirl:

• Use Emotional Freedom Techniques. I can help you with that and refer you to my friend Carol Solomon, an EFT pro.
• Accept yourself. You are not perfect. Be patient. If you make a slip and eat too much, forgive yourself. No inner critic allowed!
• Get your butt moving. Walk. Get away from temptation. Walk in place when you watch TV. Life small weights. Smile!
• Love yourself up. Look into the mirror and be proud of who you are becoming. You will get there.

Want self mastery?

Master your emotions. Easier said than done.

If you get stuck, I love to help you soar!

Come on, I’ll fly with the eagles with you!

OK, so you have had bariatric surgery and you want to lose weight. GREAT! Good for you. I admire your courage in going through with your procedure. BRAVO!

Now what do you want to accomplish?

Do you want to establish a new life purpose now that your weight does no inhibit you?

What are you willing to hold yourself accountable for?

Do you need some help developing your new thin life mission?

Bariatric surgery coaching coming up?

Steps to establish your personal BARIARTIC BEST SELF the new thin me mission:

• Be patient with yourself as you formulate your life’s purpose statement. It took me a year to get it straight.
• Brainstorm from where do you get your most juice? Your energy? Your feeling good?
• What are your values? For example, my biggest value are freedom, excellence, creativity, achievement, and love.
• How do you live your life? What really matters to you?
• Let yourself go. Hang loose. Have fun with this.

Use action words. Verbs. In my mission statement, I say, “I empower and evolve people to their best selves.”

Ask others how you are unique. You will love this! It is so much fun. Get ready for surprises, too. Remember that when you lose weight, people will see you as different. Will you act differently? Decide who you are, how you express yourself, and what you will choose to accomplish everyday.

Remember, you are not weight and pounds.

You are you. Wonderful, remarkable you

You are so very special.

What if I disagreed…Who, me?

Why does it have to be so hard…Weight loss winning?

Whether you have had bariatric surgery or might someday, weight may still be your issue.

Or you think it is.

But if it weren’t?

Huh? I can hear you telling me, “But is HAS been my bug-a-boo forever?

What if I disagreed…Who, me?

What if I took you on and asked you, “Truly, is it your weight…Or is it your FOCUS?”

Or is it the weight of your life?

This blog is about YOU.

All of you.

Your heart, mind, soul…your essence. Every morsel of who you really are.

What does that have to do with pounds or #’S?

I am going to give you a challenge.

Please close your eyes and sense your world. Focus on wonderful YOU inside.

Can you feel the loveliness that you are? Your goodness, strengths, and personal power.

If you can’t, it is all waiting for you.

Your very BEST SELF.

Start today!

Look for the good.

Be grateful

Savor life, not food.

And if you’re stuck, give me a buzz or flash me an email.

You deserve your BEST SELF now!