Got a Weight Problem?

I got published in Elephant Journal! (Again!)

Thanks Ele! I'm very grateful for these opportunities.

Elephant Journal is an independent online journal dedicated to the mindful life.   In their own words: "The mindful life is about yoga, organics, sustainability, conscious consumerism, enlightened education, the contemplative arts, adventure, bicycling, family…everything."

Here's an excerpt from my latest article titled How To Not Have a Weight Problem:

The key to not having a weight problem is not having a food problem.

The key to not having a food problem is not having a body image problem. So ultimately the real question is: How not to have a body image problem? And the answer is not (I repeat, NOT) having the perfect body, because that doesn’t exist. There isn’t one perfect body; there isn’t even my perfect body. There is just my body, and in so being my body, it is perfect.

We’ve got to love ourselves.

We need to not beat ourselves up every time we eat a “bad food” or forgo a workout.

Please don’t be someone who always wants to lose 10 pounds. I know those people. I’ve been that person. I didn’t feel extremely unhealthy or overweight, but any day that I felt extra slim was a good day and any day that I felt larger than normal was a bad day.

I always pictured myself thinner (and therefore magically happier) in the future.  In the words of Bob Newhart, I needed to “STOP IT.”

Click here to read the rest of How To Not Have a Weight Problem.

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Feel free to leave any thoughts and comments about this article on this post or at the bottom of the piece on Elephant Journal. 

Defining Introverted

I am an introvert.  

It is interesting to me that many people don't seem to understand the true meaning of that classification.

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Let's start with what it doesn't mean.

• It doesn't mean that I don't like people.  I like people a lot.  
• It doesn't mean that I am not social.  I am quite sociable and enjoy social events.
• It doesn't mean that I am a quiet wallflower.  I am often loud and jovial.

While there are, of course, introverts who may prefer solitude over the company of others most of the time, consciously avoid social events and would act rather silent and removed if they were forced to attend a social gathering, that is not the very definition of introverted.

Introvert: (n) Person who retreats mentally

My interpretation is that extroverts are rejuvenated by the vitality of others, while introverts are drained by it.  Instead, introverts acquire their strength from solitude.

via challengeofsolitude.blogspot.com

I enjoy people very much.  Well, people that I enjoy- I enjoy very much.  But I need alone time.  

I go beyond being content in my own company to requiring it.  Solitude for me is an oasis.  An opportunity for me to just be.

We humans are a social bunch.  We tend to thrive in communities and acquire a "group mentality."  There is safety in numbers and fear of the outliers.  It is this unease around the recluse that sets off an assumed association between a want for privacy and nefarious thoughts.

While there are certainly warning signs of mental anguish that include voluntary extreme isolation, an introvert wanting to recuperate in solitude is not that.

My personal experience has been that since I fit many people's expectation of an extrovert by being generally outgoing, people sometimes struggle with understanding that after having been vivacious and (yes, sometimes) brash, that I may need to retreat into solitude without thinking that it is somehow a negative reflection upon them.  I tend to be very sensitive to other people's energies and can come home drained after a day spent enveloped in the activity of a large group.  

This is not a bad thing.  I don't mind it at all.  Given space and opportunity, I will happily revive and repeat.  

But I need that time. 

Without it, I struggle.  I get depleted.  My health suffers.  And honestly, I'm a bit tired of having to defend it.  

Some people easily get it.  They, too, are introverts and understand completely.  But to my extroverted comrades who take offense or have concern: please know that it is not personal, that it is not problematic, and that I do not expect you to seek the same method of comfort.  

We introverts do not insist that everyone appreciate the pleasure of solitude as we do, though we may like to promote its benefits, but we do ask that we be granted the space to do so.

It really is what is best for all of us.

Some quotes for the week

"What a strange illusion it is to suppose that beauty is goodness."  

Leo Tolstoy

"You can't use up creativity.  The more you use, the more you have."  

Oscar Wilde

"To be beautiful means to be yourself.  You don't need to be accepted by others.  You need to accept yourself."

Thích Nhất Hạnh

"Mmm. Terrible Ideas.  Don't you just love those."  

From Under the Tuscan Sun

"There is nothing more beautiful, nor more rare than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me that is the true essence of beauty."  

Steve Mariboli 

Music is good for the soul

Bastille, Flaws

The Head and The Heart, Rivers & Roads

Lord Huron, Lonesome Dreams

Word Nerd

I love language.  I love descriptive imagery and witty banter.  Good conversation, challenging debate, a beautiful turn of phrase- mmm, baby, that's the stuff.

While I am a little dismayed that one of my favorite quotes, an awesome quote from Dead Poet's Society, has been turned into a commercial voiceover for iPad Air, it reminded me to focus on language on this site.  I actually was going to have a separate page on this site entitled Written Word (which featured that quote btw) where I would list books, essays and poetry that I enjoy, but instead I decided just to allow those to come out organically as part of my journal.  So here is a post featuring some words that I think are beautiful and little known.

And here is that wonderful quote from Dead Poet's Society, in case you haven't heard it before: 

"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

(And just for the record: my problem isn't with Apple.  I'm writing this post on a MacBook Air actually, but something about using that quote as a marketing campaign and therefore making it super hackneyed feels kind of like my favorite indie band just went mainstream.  I don't know- it may be silly, but I think many can relate.)

Published

I got published in Elephant Journal!  

Elephant Journal is an independent online journal dedicated to the mindful life.   In their own words: "The mindful life is about yoga, organics, sustainability, conscious consumerism, enlightened education, the contemplative arts, adventure, bicycling, family…everything."

Here is an except from my article:

Of the many diet-based communities out there, the vegetarian community is one of the largest and most prolific.

Bear with me for a moment, but as a recent graduate with my M.S. in Nutrition and Integrative Health, I’ve spent a lot of time the last couple of years thinking about people’s diets and their relationship to their diets. It seems to me that, for some, subscribing to a particular diet philosophy is akin to subscribing to a specific religious belief.

The correlations run deep—from leaders to sacred texts to ‘true believers’. Blind faith, for example, can defend any effect that a diet may have upon one’s body: feeling ill is simply the body detoxifying, or perhaps the diet wasn’t adhered to strictly enough. Any unfortunate reaction is explained away.

Is there a Church of Vegetarianism?

Click here to read the rest of Is there a Church of Vegetarianism? 

Feel free to leave any comments on this post or at the bottom of the article with your thoughts.

I'm very grateful to the staff of Elephant Journal for publishing my article.  Thank you!

Themes of 2013- Part 2

Now, what about the reigning themes of pop culture in 2013?  

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In 2013, American culture said goodbye to Breaking Bad, hello again to boy bands and what the hell? to the most ineffective congress in U.S. history.  But the overriding theme that will probably dominate most 2013 pop culture wrap ups is something else.  In 2013 mainstream pop culture was introduced to the idea of Twerking.  While I have no real interest in talking at large about a dance move, I do think the juicy nugget within that topic is about the larger conversations that went on after Twerking hit the airwaves.

Once again, female sexuality and body image came front and center.

I've read a lot of articles and heard a bunch of commentary about people's reactions to the general omnipresence of mostly-naked pop stars and overt sexual imagery. Ironically, these shouts of outrage are fueling the epidemic and encouraging more of it by garnering massive attention to these displays.  These objections are also not new. This whole cycle isn't new. Miley is being vilified today.  Britney and Christina were vilified 10 years ago, and Madonna was vilified before that.  Why the topic of female sexuality, and women's behavior in general, garner the most vehement reactions by the public is of interest to me.

I don't think there is any doubt that men and women are treated differently when it comes to sexuality and behavior.  

via feelmorebetter.com

Society at large seems to be fairly uncomfortable with the idea of young women having sex.  All of the laws and conversations about birth control, HPV vaccines, abstinence and abortion tend to stem from a deep seeded belief that young women (and women in general) should not be having sex.  Otherwise, the conversations would be different.  It is a proven fact that teaching abstinence results in more teenage pregnancies than methods that teach safe sex measures.  The HPV vaccine is targeted at curbing an epidemic of the most common STD that can result in CANCER, but some people fear that if a girl gets the vaccine it will magically result in her either having sex immediately or ultimately later having more sex or both (and the implicit connotation there is that her having sex is bad.)  If those who oppose abortion truly are against the idea of a fetus being terminated, then they would support birth control because it has been proven that the number one way to cut down on abortions is to increase use of birth control.  Instead, the powers (and followers) who oppose abortion tend to also be against birth control rights.  Therefore, the central thread is that sex should be minimal and only for procreation.  Of course, the burden of responsibility under that doctrine tends to fall much more heavily upon women than men as well.

But back to the twerking.  Why are we, as a society, so preoccupied with displays of female sexuality in pop music performances?

Personally, I agree that there seems to be a general uniformity and lack of creative diversity amongst the marketing campaigns of pop music.  The entertainment industry does seem a bit stuck in their ability to promote artists.  Interestingly, there is actually way more music (and all other art forms) available today than ever before thanks to technology that allows aspiring artists to publish their own material and make it technically available to a large mass of people.  I say 'technically' because with such a vast amount of stuff out there in internet land, people will only find it if they know where to look.  So yes, I do absolutely wish that the record companies and other influential playmakers will help diversify the market and get different representations of sexuality and human behavior (other than the one-size-fits-all concept of aggressive, in-your-face nearly naked dancing) into the mainstream.  

That said, I think that it is possible to recognize that there are some missing opportunities for a greater range of artistic expression without having a conniption fit every time a woman takes off her clothes.  Seriously, a MTV award show performance probably should not dominate the public conversation for as long as it did.  (And yes, I recognize that I am talking about it, but honestly I'm really talking about the larger issues.)  Granted, maybe it was a marketing ploy.  I assume that controversy still sells, and it could be a conscious choice by businessmen to keep those conversations going. Even if that is true, I would argue that we take the bait too easily.  We shouldn't keep finding displays of female sexuality so shocking and we shouldn't keep feeling the need to scorn these young women.  (I mean, come on.  We are doing this so much that that the term "slut-shaming" now exists.)  After all, we are talking about sex- not violence. As a culture, we seem way more tolerant of violence in representation than of sex.  Why is that?  

So long 2013, I hope 2014 brings some new ideas into the mix and leaves behind a bit of the mania.

via fitnessgoop.com

Themes of 2013- Part 1

Before we collectively ring in the New Year, what is there to take away from this wacky year that has passed?

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On a personal level, 2013 was the year I graduated from graduate school with a M.S. degree.  It was the year I completed my clinical internship and passed my subsequent board exam.  It was also the year I launched this website.  Ultimately, it was a year of books and computer screens.

But what about the intangibles?

I definitely had some inner growth.  Every day has been about becoming a little bit closer to the person I aspire to be.  To gain faith and confidence in myself.  To cultivate my own observer and turn down the volume on any self-judgements.  

I see many more glimmers and glances into that woman.  Everyday she becomes slightly more real.  

I am proud of the person I am becoming.  There are days of doubt and struggle, but I do look back on my early twenties and have thoughts of, "If I knew then...!"  It seems funny and strange, to identify with something so cliché.  But I do.  And I suppose I will continue to have those thoughts as I age.

Alas, it is still a process.

Oh to have the freedom of figuring out exactly what I want to do and how to do it- without fear!  To have the audacity to be me!

I think that is how I shall ring in the new year.  I'll toast to that!

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I'm attempting to come up with the word that I want to choose for 2014.  I really like the idea of picking 'my word' ever since reading about the concept of a city or person having their own word in Eat Pray Love.  A person's word can certainly change over time, so I think declaring my word for the year is a nice spin on the classic "resolutions" concept.

I've been mulling it over a bit and I think I've landed on it: GUMPTION.

I resolve to remember to live my life with gumption in 2014.

Success!

I passed my board exam.

PHEW!

I am beyond thrilled to be able to cross that one off the list.

Those many heavy books are going on the shelf! ...to be easily retrieved when I need to consult them.  Alas, learning never stops.

via stm.lbl.gov 

Thoughts on Having a Healthy Holiday

I don't know about you, but I get a little tired of all of the articles about how to get through the holidays without "blowing your diet" or gaining a bunch of weight.  It seems to me that we may be over thinking it a bit.  There are parties other times of the year, after all, and just because it is the holiday season, which inevitably involves a lot of baking, doesn't mean that everyone is defenseless against an urge to double their calorie intake.

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Granted, if you are actively trying to lose weight, then most likely there is some degree of hunger, or at least a lack of fullness, that makes being surrounded by tempting treats especially hard.  And for that, yes, a few strategies to make it easier are great.  They are rather obvious, but they bear repeating: stay away from the food table and socialize with friends instead; make a conscious choice to only eat your one favorite treat; avoid alcohol or go for healthier choices such as wine over sugary mixed drinks, if there won't be healthy options at the party don't show up hungry; and of course eat mindfully.

Those are honest and intelligent tips, and they technically apply to anyone for whom the holidays pose a challenge.  

My point, though, since there are plenty of articles out there that mention those tips and others is that maybe we are imposing a problem upon people for whom they don't actually need to be worried about holiday eating.  I don't like the implication that everyone innately has a desire to consume way more energy than they are expending at holiday time and that this is an urge that must be fought!

I don't think that mentality is empowering to people.  I also think that, for many, it sets up a self-fulfilling prophecy.  

What if we didn't tell people that they are going to have a strong desire to eat the entire pie and that they must arm themselves with strategies to fight the good fight? Would people be able to naturally eat mindfully? Would people not feel like they want to eat all of the treats instead of just one or two of their favorites if we don't tell them they will want to eat everything? What about the implication that this is a special time of the year where eating habits always change- which could mean "take advantage of the crazy foods before they're gone!" or "eat until you're sick, that's the point!"  Or, and this a controversial one: what if it didn't seem completely horrific to gain a couple pounds in the winter and lose them in the warmer months?  There is still a lot of research to be done in this area, but maybe we naturally have slightly larger appetites in the winter and smaller appetites in the summer and being the exact same weight year round isn't important.

I don't actually have the answers to these questions, most likely because it doesn't apply the same to everyone.  We are all different, unique individuals for whom there is no one right diet that fits everyone.  That includes the holidays. There probably are some people for whom the holidays do entice them to eat a lot more, and it is partially due to societal influence.  Not everyone, but some.  Since that is a less discussed topic, I'd like to offer a new perspective for the good of those people: chill out and just enjoy the holidays.

This Week's Music Three

Birdy, Wings

Jack Savoretti, Written in Scars

Marcus Foster, I Was Broken

Nelson Mandela Quotes

Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95.  He certainly left his mark on society and inspired humanity to do and be better.  Below are some of his inspiring quotes as a reminder of what he stood for and to honor the late leader.

via guardianlv.com

“I came to accept that I have no right whatsoever to judge others in terms of my own customs.”

“Great anger and violence can never build a nation. We are striving to proceed in a manner and towards a result, which will ensure that all our people, both black and white, emerge as victors.”

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”

“It is never my custom to use words lightly. If twenty-seven years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are and how real speech is in its impact on the way people live and die.”

“I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”

“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.”

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

“It is always impossible until it’s done.”

Weekly Three

Laura Marling, Ghosts (yep, that's Marcus Mumford performing with her)

Trevor Hall, The Mountain

Ray LaMontagne, You are the Best Thing

Enter Overwhelm

And BAM!

It hit me.  The HOLY CRAP I'm really doing this!  I don't even have a departure date set and I'm already feeling panicked.  

I started thinking about all of the things that I will need to accomplish before I leave:

• Open a Charles Schwab bank account (considered by travelers to be the best bank account for travel, they reimburse your ATM fees)
• Get some vaccinations (probably, depending on where I plan on going.)
• Figure out at least SOME of where I'm going
• Sell my car? (If I plan to be gone long term, this seems like the smart move)
• Entrance visa for at least my first destination
• Buy travel insurance (a must for travelers!)
• Buy a few travel related health and safety items (locks, door stop, whistle etc)
• Actually purchase plane tickets and book initial accommodation

All of that can feel like a bit much, but honestly I think what really got to me was a panic about money.  I'm pretty sure it all started with the realization that my current Bank of America account has a minimum balance requirement.  That just cut into my travel fund!

I really ought to calm down because the truth is that I can simply close that account. If I want a separate savings account to store some cash while I'm off, I'm probably better off opening a CD or something that might get at least a minuscule amount of interest anyway.

So okay, I'm starting to talk myself down.  But DAMN, it's amazing how easily and quickly I can freak out! 

via Pinterest

I'm trying to trust life.  I'm trying to trust the words of all the wonderful travel bloggers out there who promise that it will be alright, that I will figure this out as I go.  I'm also trying to remind myself that anytime I've started a new adventure, whether it be stateside or overseas, even though it ended up being AMAZING it was terrifying and tough at first.

I suppose that is the way of truly worthwhile experiences.  They move you out of your comfort zone and into a place where you can grow.  

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I have a notoriously chatty mind.  Trying to get it to just shut up and be quiet already is not easy.  But maybe I shouldn't be trying to fight it as much as work with it.  Maybe learning how to embrace the part of me that over-thinks instead of wishing I would just chill out is the key.  

An ability to think about different possibilities and plan for those possibilities is actually a strength.  It is just the fear and paralyzation that can come with it that is the problem.

Perhaps that is the lesson: getting the head, heart and gut to all work in tandem. 

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Oneness in the words of Russell Brand

I found this video on Sarah Wilson's blog and wanted to share it here.

I don't doubt that most people have some sort of current opinion about Russell Brand. Be it quite positive or quite negative, I'm guessing you have one.  That's what happens when someone is outspoken and prolific.

Knowing that, I'd suggest playing a little game.  Try to drop whatever story you have about Russell in your mind and watch the video below.  See what comes up for you. Then watch it again allowing yourself to completely buy in to your previous opinions about him.  Did your experience with the video change?  Has your opinion about Russell or the ideas discussed in the video been altered in any way? 

Clearly, I'm sharing this video because I appreciate what is said in it.  I also happen to fall into the Russell Brand-positive camp.  It's okay if you don't.

I'm guessing that this video is either really on par with your thoughts or completely misses the mark with you.

I'm not interested in discussing the personal lives of celebrities, and I certainly have never met Russell.  But I do find it interesting how much public opinion of the messenger can affect how a message is perceived.

I'm guilty of it myself, of course.  I'm not a fan of hypocrites and someone who preaches a way of being while acting in direct defiance to that way is, shall we say, "extremely uncool" in my mind.

I don't really know if Russell truly lives his life as a tolerant, respectful being who views us all as one.  But I hope he does.  My story is that he does.  Regardless, I really enjoy that video.  Maybe you did as well.

Thankful

I am very thankful that I was able to spend this day with my family, in a warm house, preparing delicious, nutritious food.  

I am thankful that I was surrounded by cuddly, furry friends who seem to embody love.

I am thankful for the wonderful people in my life, who although they send me love and appreciation always, took the opportunity today to reaffirm this.

I am thankful that today exists as a reminder to be grateful and thankful, to think of others, and to offer compassion and assistance to those who are in need.

Happy Thanksgiving.

One step at a time

Today I sent off my current passport, the application, a check for $110, and a photo (taken under massively bright florescent lights...awesome) to have my passport renewed.  It's one of the many steps I am currently taking in an attempt to make this plan of upcoming travel a reality.  If this is going to work then I need to actually put the pieces in order.  

Planning long term international travel can be exciting, intimidating and overwhelming. If you are prone to overwhelm, I suggest taking it in steps.  That's what I am trying to do. Breaking down some of the various aspects of travel into categories.  Perhaps the following (in no particular order):

• Destination(s)
• Entry Requirements
• Money
• Packing
• Health and Safety
• Homefront Tidying

It definitely pays to do your research ahead of time and figure out some logistics.  For example, your passport needs to be valid and shouldn't be set to expire within the year. Some countries won't let you in if your passport will expire in less than 6 months.  You will want to see if any of the countries you are planning on visiting require visas and what the process is of getting them.  A lot of countries provide short term visitation visas upon arrival, but some require pre-approval.  Also, some countries only provide very short term visas, so if you were originally intending on spending months in one place, you need to make sure that's allowed.  In that same vein, most countries offering limited visas will require proof that you will, in fact, be leaving.  Meaning you will have to have bought a ticket out of the country already.

Here's a few helpful sites for travel info that I'm currently using.

• www.frommers.com
• www.lonelyplanet.com
• www.letsgo.com
• www.bootsnall.com

Those are professional travel information sites that have a lot good info on them, but I also seriously recommend reading travel blogs.  I have learned so much about the reality of being on the road and gotten really good travel tips from the following:

• www.thisbatteredsuitcase.com
• www.wanderingearl.com
• www.adventurouskate.com
• www.legalnomads.com
• www.youngadventuress.com

I'm trying to breathe through all of this.  It is daunting trying to sort this all out.  I think a big part of it is that I need to answer a few really important questions first.  Important questions such as where am I going?!  

Kind of key that question.  

I think once I have that first location set down it will feel clearer.  I am trying to take care of the things that I can take care of in the meantime while I'm still shifting about in my mind about exactly what I am doing and where I'm going, so that an opportunity may actually be able to present itself.  I'm pretty certain that's manifesting 101- acting as though it is already received.

photo credit: airplane-collectible-best-net-resource.com

This Week's Three

Ben Howard, These Waters (Live)

James Vincent McMorrow, We Don't Eat

Matt Corby, Resolution

It's Been a Long Day

When I graduated high school, we made tri-fold poster boards.  I honestly don't remember what the purpose of these boards was, but essentially they were supposed to capture and highlight our high school experiences.  

Everyone picked a title or theme for their board.

I picked this cartoon from Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson.  

The title of my board was "It's been a long day."

I own multiple Calvin and Hobbes printed books.  I absolutely love them.  For some light reading the other night, I was flipping through my Calvin and Hobbes The Sunday Pages 1985-1995 and came across that cartoon.  

I ended up reading the entire book (it's not that hard to do, it is full of comics after all) and the very last strip in the book is the final Calvin and Hobbes strip of the series.

It's beautifully minimalist.  And personally, that's the strip I want to inhabit.  Let's go exploring.

So that's over with

It is a touch anti-climatic.

Months worth of studying priming my mind just to be able to fill in 200 bubbles with pencil. (#2 only!)

Strange.

I think I may be detoxing from the stress.  Stiff neck, exhaustion, overall feeling of queasiness.  It is slowing sinking in, however, that I may actually be able to move forward.  That I can close those books.

That possibility is exciting. 

Instead of letting the pressure come crashing in with endless "Now whats?" and "Hows?" I'm going to try to release into a little bit of weightlessness.  If only for a little while.

photo credit: Pinterest