I've come to fully appreciate that losing weight and keeping it off is both a body & soul proposition.
"Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future." ~ Deepak Chopra
Let Go
For the past several years, I've been mostly focused on providing information and recipes to help you nourish your body.
But I think many of us are overfeeding our bodies in an attempt to satisfy hunger deep in our souls.
To help counter this imbalance, I plan on providing more Food for the Soul here on the blog.
I came across this wonderful poem as I was clearing away clutter—disposing of old yoga teacher training materials—and thought it worthy of sharing...
Let Go Of The Past
By Kathleen O’Brien
Let go of guilt; it's okay to make the same mistakes again.
Let go of obsessions; they seldom turn out the way you planned.
Let go of hate; it's a waste of love.
Let go of blaming others; you are responsible for your own destiny.
Let go of fantasies so reality can come true.
Let go of self-pity; someone else may need you.
Let go of wanting; cherish what you have.
Let go of fear; it's a waste of faith.
Let go of despair; change comes from acceptance and forgiveness.
Let go of the past; the future is here – right now.
Letting Go
What do you need to let go of for lasting weight loss success?
- Obsessive calorie counting?
- Dietary extremes?
- All or nothing thinking?
- Self-hate?
- Overindulgence?
- Starting tomorrow or Monday or someday?
- Giving up?
- The need to be perfect?
- Making excuses?
- Deprivation?
- Putting yourself last?
- Negative self talk?
- Stress?
Need a little help letting go?
The day after I sent out my email and the above poem on letting go for lasting weight loss success, I received an email from one of my favorite yoga teachers providing a specific yoga practice designed to help you relax and let go.
Talk about divine intervention!
As she explains, the mind attains serenity through prolonged exhalation and suspension of breath.
But there is something else that happens when we hold the breath out (comfortably) and linger in that space of stillness between breaths.
It's a place where there is no need to rush, no need to get somewhere or to do something – it's just a place to BE.
It is a welcome pause in a life full of activity, and striving, and accomplishing.
It is a doorway to serenity.
The practice in the following yoga video, from Olga Kabel, is a short yoga practice that uses breath and simple movement to help you relax the body, deepen your exhalation and quiet the mind.
It is particularly useful when you feel stressed or overwhelmed.
She calls it the "Doorway to Serenity Yoga Practice."
Give a try and let me know what you think...
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
Learn More Yoga, Stress & Weight Loss
- 7 Ways Yoga Helps with Weight Loss
- Breathe Away Stress
- Why Yoga is the Best Exercise for Weight Watchers
- The Power of Positive Thinking and Weight Loss
- Stop Stressing to Lose Weight
- Is Stress the Reason You Can't Lose Weight?
- Relax and Lose Weight
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Sylvia Elliott
I need to let go of my need to constantly prove to people that I am worthy and worthwhile. Growing up as an obese child, I always had to earn love and respect and kindness. That has stayed with me, some 60 years later and as a Lifetime. As a result, I overextend myself and add unneeded stress to my life. It's time to LET GO!!!!!!!
Kim Henrichs
I need to let go of trying to be someone that I am not.
Sheti
Your messages come at just the right time??Thank you
Allison
I need to let go of clutter and commit to getting organized. I need to let go of the extra weight that I am carrying around and commit to getting back to my planning and active self. I am ready to let go of stress and pain from a current injury and look forward to recovery, resting, and finding a creative focus in healing.
robin meroney
I need to let go of :I am not perfect.
Mel
I need to not eat my stress from work. The last 4 months has been crazy at work and I have not been handling it well. I have been eating my feeling.
Theresa Kelly
I need to let go of worrying & stressing about things I have no control over. These things rob me of joy. Deep breath....move forward & trust.
Pam
I need to slow down and live in the day...not the past or the future!!!
Cherie A
I'm letting go of the attitude that I can do everything by myself. I'm going to seek support and help... and accept it when it is offered!
Stacie
Only accepting perfection- everything doesn’t have to be perfect.
KarenW
I need to let go of worry & anxiety and negative thinking. Also need to stop being perfect and realize we all make mistakes.
Cyndi
I need to let go of stress. I have too much. Just need to let go and have faith.
Pam
I'm ready to let go of the past and move forward without over analyzing (any longer) everything that has transpired over the past 16 months or so. It is over and I need to look to the future instead of re-living the stressful past.
Ready to put myself on the "front burner" again after being on the "back burner" too long while helping everyone else.
I wish everyone here success in 2018!
Angela Hendricks
I'm ready to let go of thinking I have to be perfect all the time. Perfect mother, perfect wife, perfect daughter, perfect friend. It would be nice to let that guard down and be just me.
Ellen
I love the yoga practice with Olga. It was very helpful for relaxation. Thank you Martha!
Marian Counihan
Hi Martha
I love the idea that you are so connected to the spirit of yoga and its valuable life lessons. You are an inspiration. Thank you