November 1st, 2018 Not Really Strange

November 1st, 2018 Not Really Strange

Yesterday: I maintained the integrity of my reduced calorie budget, I remained refined sugar-free, I met my daily water goal, and I stayed well connected with exceptional support.

Good morning!! I'm running behind this morning! I hope your Halloween was a good one--and just like that, it's November!! Doesn't seem possible to already be here--with the Thanksgiving a few weeks away!! I had a really good Wednesday. I really enjoyed our support group team calls last night. Later in this post, Mike from Vegas, a current member, shares some words about our group. Right now is the open registration period for our new session. This opportunity only comes around every 8-weeks and I've made some space available for you to join us.

Excerpt from May 2014:

It could have been a disaster.

My stress level was exceptionally high today. I started fielding errant thoughts mid-afternoon that excessive food might be the best option. Isn't that strange?

Not really.

If you add up all the years of experience I have in handling stress that way, it makes perfect sense. I'm really good at it.

I decided it was best for me to take a nap. Perhaps I'm just really tired, maybe that's why I'm feeling this way, I thought. I snoozed for nearly two hours. It was a solid nap. I woke up and viola...

I still wanted to eat my way out of the stress.

Of course, you and I both know it doesn't work that way. Shoveling in massive quantities of food only serves as a temporary distraction--a pleasurable one for a little while, at least, until the flood of guilt, shame, disgust and more start cascading in, on top of whatever was stressful in the first place. Excess food isn't a fixer.

My awareness level is high, thank goodness. I immediately realized my lifestream and fundamental elements stream were becoming dangerously close to crossing. I must never let the streams cross!

Now what? Uhg...part of my brain was screaming feeeeed meeeeee!!! And another part was trying to rationally dissect what was happening.

Through my experience in support, I realized quickly that I needed to get this out of my head. When these thoughts are exclusive to our head, they're powerful and controlling. When we tell on them, shining a light on them by sharing with good support friends, suddenly they're called out--like a bully that gets caught and is suddenly on their best behavior after being exposed.

I texted several of my friends in support, explaining what was happening; how I was feeling. I felt relieved as soon as I hit the send button. It wasn't exclusive to my brain anymore. It was out there.

The text support replies started coming and by this time, I felt empowered to overcome.

And I did.

I enjoyed some coffee, planned, prepared and precisely weighed an amazing meal and made it to the YMCA for an elliptical workout. I even bumped it up to level 19. By the end of the workout, the episode this afternoon seemed very far away.

It could have been a disaster. But it wasn't. It was a solid reminder that I'm not ever immune to those old reactions. The coping mechanisms providing the perfect recipe for morbid obesity are like old tools I don't need anymore. I've learned how to use better tools.

I must always hold the elements of my recovery sacred. And good support is one of the pillars of the plan helping make that happen consistently. It's a tool I can't live without.

Thank goodness.

Like my coffee cup says, I get by with a little help from my friends.

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The next session of my conference call accountability and support group starts next week! I've opened a limited number of spaces for a Thursday night group call at 8pm central/9pm eastern/6pm pacific. This next session is the Holiday session-- Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. If you want to develop your personal daily plan of action, insert membership in our group as one of your tools--and discover what can happen!

Some wonderful words from a current member:

Have you struggled losing weight? Are you tired of losing and gaining the same weight over and over? I know I was.  I have been a member of Sean's weight loss support group for some time now and find that the support and accountability you receive from Sean and his group are invaluable to your journey to a healthy new you.  As a man, I was stubborn and thought I could do this on my own. Well, I will tell you that this might just be the missing piece of that puzzle you've been working on for a long time. Sean truly cares about every single person in his groups and will go the extra mile to help you succeed.  The calls, coupled with the private Facebook page are one of the best investments you could ever make in yourself.  Especially you guys, just do it and see what a difference it makes. I know it did for me.  -Mike in Las Vegas.

If you're interested in joining our team, contact me today: transformation.road@gmail.com or call/text: 580-491-2228

I hope to hear from you soon!

Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean