Terra Ayres

Anyone available to join me this afternoon at 130pm?

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!

I had last-minute 3 cancellations for today’s (Wednesday, May 16th) Trader Joe’s tour.  The tour begins at 130pm at the Batavia TJ’s Store, located on the southeast corner of Randall Rd and Fabyan Parkway.  The tour takes about 90 minutes and you will get loads of healthy, low Points Plus value foods and meal ideas, a free tote bag and a chance to sample several foods we talk about on the tour. If you are available on this short notice and would like to join us, please email me at Terra@StoneTowerProperties.com.   I will happy to add the first 3 people who email me to our list today, so let me know if you can make it!

Have a great day!

Terra Ayres

The Journey…..

“Guilt can quickly turn into regret and self-pity.  The only way out is through acceptance and forgiveness.”  ~Author Unknown

When it comes to adopting new behaviors and changing our lifestyle, the forgiveness we most need to practice is to ourselves.  Accepting that we are not always going to be perfect and forgiving ourselves for it is a huge part of being healthy.  We are on a journey to improve our overall quality of life and there is no place for guilt, regret OR self-pity!  It’s our job to nip those feelings in the bud by recognizing them when they begin to arise in our thought and standing up to them immediately.  Forgive yourself for every little slip up and move on and make a better choice next time.  Everyday is a fresh start and as we know better, we naturally do better.  Enjoy the journey starting with this very moment!  See you soon!

Mental GPS

Marilyn..

Thank you for the email below and thank you for allowing me to put it on the blog for everyone to read!  YOU ARE IN AN INSPIRATION and I am so happy to get to be a part of your weight maintenance journey!

I hope everyone has a great day and I look forward to seeing you at the meetings this week!

Dear Terra~

I had a funny thought at the meeting today.  What if we had a mental GPS that would say “recalculating route” when we mess up with being diligent on our weight loss goal?  In the past (BWW…..before Weight Watchers) I would mess up and then throw up my hands saying “what’s the use?  I’m never going to lose weight!”  And of course I would proceed to stuff myself with whatever was available.  Now, my mental GPS can acknowledge I made a wrong turn but point me in the right direction immediately.

Also for me I think I found what will encourage me.  The more weight I have lost the better I got at yoga.  My yoga instructor is quite intense……it’s more like physical therapy.  I have been going to his class for 8 years, and noticed how much better I was when I lost 40#.  Now I want to get my right leg over my right shoulder, which actually can be done.  I am working on getting 2 pounds under goal…….and you know I’ve been struggling since the New Year.

A slip isn’t a fall, and failure is not an option.

See you next week!

Marilyn

Let Your Light Shine!

“We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.”   ~Mary Dunbar

When it comes to achieving and maintaining our goal weight, it’s about creating  livable, customized, habits that fit our unique lifestyle.  There is not a “one size fits all” solution to weight loss and that’s why I love Weight Watchers.  From the Points Plus Program we learn guidelines and then we get to customize them to fit OUR OWN NEEDS, WANTS AND DESIRES.  It’s all about how WE want to make it work in our own lives, rather than being restricted by unrealistic rules and deprivation.  The trade-off is that we have to own up to the work of figuring out what is going to work for us and what is not.  Of course weight loss is the goal, but just as important, is the balance of staying satisfied and engaged in our own lives.  Many don’t like to admit it, but the truth is, it does not matter how much weight can be lost through deprivation or how quickly because it cannot be maintained.  Finding our own right mix is a journey of self discovery and along the way we learn way more than just what foods to eat or how to eat them, we learn about ourselves.  Getting control of our eating and our weight is empowering and worth every bit of the challenge the learning experience brings.  So this week, rather than focusing on a number of the scale, let’s focus on our behaviors and ENJOYING the “adventure of finding our OWN special light”.

BELIEVE in Yourself

Believe In YOURSELF

“Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself.”  ~Robert Collier

Success in weight loss and weight maintenance does not come from perfect behavior.  It’s achieved through perseverance and persistence.  ”Getting back on the horse” so to speak, after every not-so-healthy choice and moving forward.  It takes energy and confidence to start each day new and not get hung up on the past (or past behaviors), but that energy and confidence will come naturally if you can just BELIEVE in yourself.  What’s done is done.  Don’t let any negativity affect how you treat TODAY.  This weekend, work on your THOUGHT.  Eliminate any doubts or fears about not being able to achieve your goals.  KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO THIS!  I KNOW that you can, when you come to your WW meeting you are surrounded by others who ARE doing and KNOW that you can to, so commit to truly BELIEVING it for yourself!  Let’s enjoy this journey of self discovery.  It’s not just about a healthy body, it’s also about a healthy mind and spirit, so let’s focus on the joy of each step of the way!   Quitting is NOT an option.

Have a HAPPY Friday!  I will be in the new Geneva WW Store for our 830am and 930am meetings this morning and then in the South Elgin WW Center for our noon meeting.   ALSO, don’t forget and maybe help me spread the word about my newer meeting….THURSDAY EVENINGS AT 5PM at the new Geneva WW Store. It’s my only evening meetings and I am working hard to make it successful, so passing the news along to anyone who might want to attend would really help me.  THANKS!

Lose the Fear and Doubt!

What are all the things in your life that you can be grateful for today?

“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears.”  ~Anthony Robbins

Attempting to lose weight and get healthy can be a scary thing.  Change can be intimidating, especially when we think it might mean giving things up or failing.  BUT………….fear is just another form of negative self talk and if we can recognize it for what it is, we can start to over come it immediately.  Fear is self made and has no power except the power we give it.  That means we also have the power to STOP creating it anytime we choose.  If we can slow down our thinking and focus on patience by just taking life one day, one meal, one choice at a time and start to focus on all the good that is coming from our healthy changes, our journey will not only be more enjoyable, it will become a healthy lifestyle.  Living in a state of gratitude is a far more pleasant and productive way of life than living in doubt and fear caused by anxiousness about weight loss.  Every day is a new day and you get the chance to do with it whatever YOU want, so let grace take over today and ENJOY the journey!

HAPPY EASTER!

Remember, this weekend is NOT about the food! Enjoy the true meaning and turn your focus to the family and friends with which you will spending time!

Today is Good Friday and I know the kids are off school and many businesses are closed, but Weight Watchers IS NOT one of them!  If you have not weighed in this week, come on in and let’s start the weekend off right!  We are talking about the Anchoring Tool For Living and it will really help all of us to navigate the delicious food choices over the holiday weekend successfully!

I will be at the new Geneva WW Store this (Friday) morning, leading my 830am and 930am meetings and then I will be in South Elgin for my noon meeting.  I hope to see you there!  Also, please don’t forget and help me to spread the word, I am also leading ONE evening meeting a week now and it’s Thursdays at the Geneva WW Store at 5pm. 

Find The Stillness Inside You and Enjoy It

“In the midst of movement and chaos keep stillness inside of you.”   -Deepak Chopra

Our lives are so busy that sometimes it feels as if our schedules run us rather than us running our schedules, but the truth is, that no matter how busy we are or no matter what situation we are put in, we really do have the option to go back to the stillness that is inside of us.  This is a very important thing to remember when we are trying to break habits of compulsive or mindless eating.   We can feel “chaos” when we are in situations that provide all kinds of unhealthy food options and our mind is racing with thoughts of  ”Oh I want that, but I know I shouldn’t have it”.  Or sometimes the chaos comes from life situations and we feel helpless against the urges that like a magnet, seem to pull us to the to the fridge, the pantry or the drive-thru as if the food will somehow make the situation better.

As long as we continue to turn to food to find the feelings of stillness, peace and some semblance of order in our lives, we will always come up short.  Gaining control of our eating is more about understanding ourselves and our needs than it is about will power.  Will power is a temporary solution to controlling our food intake, but I am sure you don’t need me to tell  you that at some point will power always ends up failing us.  True change comes from understanding our needs and taking the initiative to find what truly fills those needs.  Being kinder to ourselves and practicing self forgiveness is a terrific start to bringing a solid sense of peace and calm to ourselves, even in the midst of a busy life and managing a healthy intake of food becomes a whole lot easier.

Have a fabulous Wednesday and I hope to see you at the meeting this week, if I haven’t already!

“Water is the driving force of all nature.” ~Leonardo da Vinci

Weight Watchers recommends six 8 ounce glasses of liquid a day, but keep in mind that if you are active, you may want to increase this amount to replace lost fluids and feel your best.

Getting back on track after spring break is not ALL about cutting back.  Many important aspects of the weight loss process involve ADDING behaviors and drinking more water is certainly one of them.  Increasing your water daily intake is an easy way to start feeling even better quickly and it has clearly been proven to aid in weight loss. Often times we don’t even realize that we can or should feel better until after we start drinking more and then really feel the difference.  TRY IT YOURSELF AND SEE!

10 Reasons to Drink Water*

1.  Water is absolutely essential to the human body’s survival. A person can live for about a month without live for about a month without food, but only about a week without water.

 2.  Water helps to maintain healthy body weight by increasing metabolism and regulating appetite.

 3.  Water leads to increased energy levels. The most common cause of daytime fatigue is actually mild dehydration.

 4.  Drinking adequate amounts of water can decrease the risk of certain types of cancers, including colon cancer, bladder cancer, and breast         cancer.

5.   For a majority of sufferers, drinking water can significantly reduce joint and/or back pain.

 6.  Water leads to overall greater health by flushing out wastes and bacteria that can cause disease.

 7.  Water can prevent and alleviate headaches.

 8.  Water naturally moisturizes skin and ensures proper cellular formation underneath layers of skin to give it a healthy, glowing appearance.

 9.  Water aids in the digestion process and prevents constipation.

 10.  Water is the primary mode of transportation for all nutrients in the body and is essential for proper circulation.

*Source:  AllAboutWater.org

Back in the Groove!

It's APRIL 2012...What would you like to accomplish this month?

Spring break is behind us and it’s time to get back to the routine!  It a tough day for us all, but we will feel better once we get back to it.  Even for those of us that didn’t head to Florida or some other exotic vacation spot, spring break was full fun activities and events that normally don’t take place when the kids are in school.  Many of us partook in several lunches and dinners out, movies and fun little adventures….most of which somehow revolve around food!    There is nothing wrong with take a break from the day to day routine while vacationing or “stay-cationing” but when it comes to our weight management, it’s very important to know when to say when and GET RIGHT BACK ON TRACK.  That “when” is TODAY!

It’s a brand new month and it’s the PERFECT month to commit making the healthy changes necessary to prepare for an awesome summer.  What behaviors can you commit to this month to help you drop some of the winter weight  you have been carrying around?  Remember, this is NOT A DIET.  Just making small changes, consistently, over time will yield big results.  There is a huge difference in how your clothes fit when you are 5-10 pounds lighter, not to mention the long list of health benefits, and that is a very doable goal to achieve before summer officially starts.   My challenge to you today is spend some time thinking about the goals you want to accomplish this month and jotting down the behaviors that you need adopt to make those goals a reality.  I am looking forward catching up with you at the meeting THIS WEEK and helping you however I can!!