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
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.
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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Nancy Jackson
I need to let go of my fear of success. As I begin to lose weight, I find a way to self-sabotage my plan. It results in my losing the same pound over and over again.
Gail
I need to let go of weighing my self everyday and getting so mad at myself if the scale goes up.
Kelli Maddox
I have no self control. NONE Everyday I say that "today will be different" but it never is.
Lynn Kraker
All or nothing thinking has sunk me for decades. I’ve been on WW for almost a year and have lost 35 pounds. I deliberately allowed myself to go off around Christmas, thinking I would get right back on Jan. 1....didn’t work! I was so discouraged, but within a few weeks, with extra support from my hubby (“please hide a few things, honey”) I got back on. Not without lots of cravings again, but I’m trying to think lifelong rather than only until I get to a certain weight. If I fail, I’m trying not to punish myself the next day (I struggle with wanting to get up to eat when I can’t sleep.)
Your recipes have been a great help this year!
Margaret Jacoby
Your recipes have been a godsend, especially the slow cooker recipes. I have been a Lifetime Member of WW for many years and still find it a struggle sometimes. Your messages and recipes are great - I share them with my daughter who is a WW member as well. Thank you
Robin Neidich
I need to let go of or change my expectations To reduce my feelings of disappointment.
Lynn Wood
I'm definitely working on letting go of guilt and excuses. I believe my success with this is key to my overall success!
D'Aun Littlefield
I need to let go of stress, worry, and need to be perfect!
let God be in more control over all and know that everyday is a new day to get everything right.
That it will be "One day at a Time" working on weightloss and Everyday happenings.
Karen Friedlander
I need to let go of the inaccurate image of myself instilled in me in my past. I need to let go of turning to food to answer emotions I don't know how to deal with. Last, I really need to let go of sugar because I have no control once I start eating something sweet.
Kathy E.
Such a great and thoughtful post! I need to and am striving to let go of so many things. Just 6 weeks ago, I re-joined WW and am letting go of weight. Weight that I was hanging onto for fear of letting my real, true self show. I'm kicking it to the curb and ready to let my light shine!
Lisa
I need to get over weekend indulgences. I do pretty good through the week but do not have control on the weekends when eating out. I know i need to make better choices. I have started yoga this past month and feel like it is definitely helping with the stress.
Susan
I need to let go of feeling guilty about anything and everything. If I can’t do something for someone because I’m doing for someone else, then I feel guilty. I really feel guilty if I’m doing for myself and someone wants me to do for them.
Niurka M. Garcia
I need to let go of the nay sayers that say I can’t do it
Lili
Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes!
Linda
May I continually let go of that which I cannot control, and not hold things which are not mine.
Laurie Determan
I want to let go of the negative thoughts in my mind. I am always finding fault with myself and it really wears me down. So with that being said I am going to work very hard at letting the positive in and getting the negative out.
Vivian G.
I need to let go of "sabotaging myself". I am working out, eating habits are better but that little voice that sneaks up behind me and tells me it's okay to eat that cream filled donut at work.. UGH!!
Chris
I'm ready to let go of bad habits.
carole richter
I'm ready to let go of trying to be everything for everyone.Not going to say YES to all.I'm ready for ME!
DeeAnna
I am ready to let go of what everyone else thinks. I know what my body needs and I know what doesn't work for me as well as what does, so starting today - I'm letting go of everyone's opinions and stepping away from the pit (per my devotional this morning).