"Mind Over Fatter" Expert Call with Tiffany Oddo- Therapist and Addiction Specialist

http://www.dr-t.net/media/Expert_call-TiffanyOddo2.mp3

*Note: You no longer need to fast forward to 5 minutes. I was able to edit it so just start listening at the beginning! Enjoy!

Giving Thanks to the Sugar Plum Witch

With the recent sugar-driven holiday of Halloween and the gorging holiday of Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, many of you are wondering what will happen once we dive deeper into the holiday season. One thing I can tell you for sure is that you will get the exact results you plan for.

If you decide to approach the holidays in the same way you approach the rest of the year, you could find yourself feeling like Santa's Sexy Little Helper. If, however, you decide to approach the holidays with a more glutinous, compulsive attitude, you may find that St. Nick's belly has graciously migrated to your body to help you get into the holiday spirit. Neither approach is wrong, however, I often assume that if you are reading these posts, you would prefer the former.

It's always funny to me that people anticipate the "holiday weight gain", when they are really only anticipating their desire for overindulgence and the subsequent "consumer's remorse". Gyms and trainers bank on the fact that, year after year, people will slow down their routine over the holidays and come back with a New Year's resolution to get back the body they had only a few short weeks ago. Nevertheless, it happens.

Halloween begins the vicious cycle as we silently sneak candy from our children's huge stash. This continues through Thanksgiving, which is the holiday we cherish for our ability to out-eat our relatives and then pass out into a complete food coma. Next come the endless stream of Christmas parties and gifts of cookies, cakes, chocolates, fudge, candy canes, and everything in the "not included on my diet" list. The most ridiculous part about it all is the fact that we feel the need to say yes to every single thing!!

This year, make a vow to yourself, for yourself, that in the spirit of giving, you will make sure to give much more than you receive. Give away the Halloween candy or start a new, healthier tradition, put enough on your Thanksgiving plate to satisfy you and give the rest to your guests, and graciously say, "I appreciate your sincere generosity, however, I made a commitment to myself not to eat (fill in the blank), and I would love for you to give it where it will not go to waste."

Personally, I can be just as jolly with a piece of crudite as I can with a Christmas cookie. That's not to say never indulge, however it is so much more satisfying to savor a truly scrumptious piece of fudge rather than stuffing an entire plate of mediocre cookies into your mouth.

Be mindful of what you are eating and why you are eating it. The holidays tend to stir up emotions in us that stuffing our face seems to pacify. By the same token, be mindful of what you are saying no to as you say yes to the multitudes of holiday shindigs. If you are saying no to your workouts for weeks on end, it may be time to whittle down which parties you feel most called to attend.

May you be conscious of the food you eat, gracious with your company, and committed to your health. Give thanks to the Sugar Plum Witch for her constant reminder this holiday season to teach others by example and I know you will be a success!

In love and Gratitude (without the sugar!)~
Erin

Who You "Be"?

Writing has always been therapeutic and cathartic for me. I tend to write more during times of inner contemplation or duress, or maybe what I write in those times just turns out better. Regardless, I am at a point of self-discovery, hence, I write.

Though I have always had the sense that my soul has lived many lifetimes, this current experience is new to me. I have never professed expertise on the inner workings of the universe though I often ponder such things. We really are all here to learn.

Recently, I was given the incredible opportunity to learn with a soul who may have at least had the life experience to understand a bit more about these essential truths. He, too, knows a thirst for knowledge, and I am happy to allow him to impart his relatively new wisdom.

The week was comprised of many routine exercises and worldly pieces of information, but it was within the structure we found the truth. As aspiring speakers, we came seeking information from one of the best so that our messages might be heard throughout the world. What we did not expect was that our lives would be forever impacted while within the walls of that room.

We meditated, we hugged, we laughed, and we cried. We learned about speaking and teaching and facilitating. We sang, we danced, we spoke, we listened. But there was something magical that took place through it all. Most of all, we loved.

While I was initially focused on the “doing”, I was gently directed back to the “being”. You see, all of the information in the “stuff I know, need to know or will know” files is just stuff. It is who I am that is the teacher, the student, the philosopher, the mother, the lover, the loved. When all of that is stripped away, one will find only love.

I awoke at 4 a.m. with the powerful sense of certainty that what I know is only a small sliver of one very large pie. While some may have a larger slice, they can never “know” the whole thing. That is, unless they know love. Love is truly all that is. Everything else is just stuff.

The most incredible thing about this new insight is that when you have the whole pie, you can share it freely. Where love flows, abundance follows.

Though I am young in age, I am filled with love, and therefore, I know enough.

I know how to cross barriers and stereotypes, how to sing from my soul, how to dance with my spirit and how to fill my own cup. I know how to reach out my hand and leave the other to receive. I know how to truly embrace another and how to look them in the eye. I know how to speak to someone without ever opening my mouth and I know how to listen when though the language may be foreign.

It has given me an uncanny sense of clarity though not all will be capable of understanding. That’s ok. I know how to love them, too. It is who I “be” that will teach and empower the world, what I “know” will make it accessible, and how I love will that transcend all.

Thank you to Jack Canfield and everyone who made that room so special.

Warm Up!

As my son and I started our walk to the park today, I found myself turning back into the house to grab extra jackets and a blanket. I guess that means fall has arrived even in sunny California!

Those chilly Fall days can cause even the most active of us (yes, me included) to want to curn up with a hot cup of tea and read a book about diet and exercise, rather than actually participate! Here are a few tips to keep your diet/exercise routine nice and warm this Fall:

1. Schedule your exercise at a time when you know you will be coming from somewhere else. (i.e. after work) This way you will be less tempted to just call it a p.j. day.

2. If it's too chilly outside, move your workout indoors. As the seasons change, you can change up your workout as well!

3. When it comes to food, make up large pots of soup on your days off and freeze for later use. Not only is this a great way to use lots of nourishing, seasonal veggies, but it's a huge timesaver!

4. Make sure to eat your omegas! As we begin to approach the cooler months, seasonal depression can start to kick in and really put a damper on your workouts. Eating omega-rich foods AND taking a good omega supplement will keep you healthy and happy!

5. Bundle up with a buddy. Having a workout buddy can help keep you motivated, keep you accountable, and make the weather seem just a little less chilly!

A Healthy Dose of Love & Gratitude~

Erin

Shape Shifting

Things have been a little crazy for me lately. I have been doing a little soul-searching, a little rearranging, a little of what I call "shape shifting", and taking a whole lot of action! So...I thought I would update you all on what I have been up to...

First of all, I blogged earlier about attending Jack Canfield's "Breakthrough to Success" program, which really was life changing. I have since also enrolled (and been accepted!) into his exclusive Train the Trainer program where I will learn how to better serve you all!

Secondly, I have taken the writing of my book, "Let's Get Fresh: The Journey of an Urban Locavore" to a whole new level. I am interviewing several people and hoping to have it published by August of next year.

Lastly, and most immediately, I have begun my new series or seminars entitled, "Mind Over Fatter: The Secret to Thinking Yourself Thin". This is where I hope to really help you all. The first half of the seminar we focus on understanding what is holding you back from your health and fitness goals, defining exactly what those goals are, and realeasing your limiting beliefs. The exercises and techniques we use are extremely powerful for creating immediate change and I am so excited to be able to facilitate them for you! The second half of the day, we will focus on action. Not only will I teach you how to succeed and give you the tools, I will give you an accountability partner to make sure you follow through!

As always, my virtual door is open and I love to hear from you all! I look forward to serving you in any way I am able.

Love & Gratitude~
Erin

A-C-T-I-O-N!

I recently returned from Jack Canfield's Breakthrough to Success program in Scottsdale, AZ (which I highly recommend, by the way), and I took home something very valuable.

Have you ever had to make a decision (big or small) and you thought about it so long and so hard that you felt absolutely paralyzed? Or maybe the opportunity you were contemplating simply just passed you by? I know I have.

You see, I wanted to attend Breakthrough to Success the first minute I heard about it, but I thought it was going to be too difficult with my son, too expensive, and too much time away from my home and business. I put it on the back burner. I thought about it periodically in a whistful sort of way and continued to place it back on that burner. Two days before the program was set to begin I felt a strong urge to see if I could make it happen. I took the necessary action and, even though things were not completely arranged by the time I got on the plane, I trusted they would all work out. Everything fell into place perfectly because I maintained flexibility and purpose. It was then that I realized just how powerful that first phone call was. It set into motion all the other things to make what I wanted happen.

On the final day of the seminar, we did an exercise that consisted of a puzzle. Jack kept saying, "Thinking is not required, only action". Still, I sat there staring at the puzzle trying to think my way out of it. Everyone began to complete their puzzles and I began to think about the metaphor this had in my life. Where else was I thinking and not acting?

Where, in your life, do you think and not act? Take the action and trust that everything will work out just fine. Once you take the action, you can adjust...but nothing happens without the initial step. Just remember, "Thinking is not required, only action!" What actions will you take today?

Love and Gratitude in Action~
Erin

Priority #1

I was in a meeting recently where finances were discussed. Whether or not people could afford this or that, etc. I brought up the example of someone I know who is constantly cash-poor, however, everytime I see her she has a new iphone, t.v., expanded cable package, and the list goes on. I then have to wonder...can she really not afford it? Of course she can!

The problem is not financial, it is about value! She simply does not see the value in the other things, and so, never makes it a priority.

You see, keeping yourself well is about valuing your health. You have to begin to ask yourself...How long do you want to live? What is your purpose? Are you taking inspired action daily to attain your goals? If the answers to these questions are "no", you have to look at where you are currently placing your priorities. If you're spending 3 hours a day watching t.v., is that really something you value enough to be doing it so often? What is it you fill your day with? Your mind with? Your heart with?

You see, if you place your health in your top 5 priorities, you will find ways to overcome your challenges, be they financial, physical, emotional, etc. If you are currently struggling with your health and would like to change, decide to make it a priority and the rest will begin to fall into place.

Love & Gratitude Always~
Erin