Every month in Real Simple magazine there is an article written by Gail Blanke, a Life Coach by profession.  When I first started reading her column I thought the idea of a “life coach” was silly.  Questions like “Do you really want someone telling you what to do with your life?”  “How is that any different from a Therapist?”  And, “Do people actually PAY her to do this ‘life coaching’?”  So maybe I was a little critical.  Usually when I am the most critical of something, it’s also when I am the most wrong.  So I began reading her articles.  I mean, I had to see what exactly this ‘life coach’ had to say! 

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The other day I was running on the treadmill and having a particularly difficult time keeping up with my routine.  Some days I feel like I can run forever, but there are other days (particularly those back-to-back cardio days) where I feel as though I am running in quicksand.  Do you know what I mean?  It’s those days where you have to fight the entire time you are working out and each minute can feel like an eternity.  Those are the days where it feels like giving up might just be the best way to go, right? 

Well, I was in the middle of one of THOSE days when it occurred to me.  This is what tough love is all about.  Think about it.  What are the things we tell our kids when we are practicing tough love (or perhaps you remember your own parents telling you)?  Here are some I could think of:

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I feel it might be prudent to add a quick disclaimer to this post.  Any blog post that I have written past 10:00pm on any given night might, just might, be a little sillier than usual based on my inability to think about anything of serious substance past that time.  Consider yourself warned!

My name is Julie and I am a cereal addict.  No, not just an addict but a downright cereal fiend.  What is the one food/drink that you absolutely would not, could not, ever possibly dream of being without?  Do you have one?  Well cereal is mine. 

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Goals can be a very empowering and motivating tool to use in life.  Have you ever set a difficult goal for yourself and achieved it?  And how did you feel after?  Yeah, now there’s something money can’t buy.  I read something the other day that said we should set small goals for ourselves to achieve, even if it’s several small goals that add up to one huge one.  The reason being that our brains do not know the difference between almost achieving a goal versus giving up and the feelings associated with that.  Our brains only register success and failure.  So to feel productive and successful at whatever it is you are trying to accomplish, small goals are worth trying. 

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I find it funny how easy it is to assume that once I reach my goal weight, everything will be “perfect”.  It’s truly laughable that there is a part of me that actually believes that!  But then again, is it really that surprising?  I mean look at the way society is set up. 

“Take this pill and feel like a million bucks!”  “Buy this magazine and you can look like her!”  ”Try THIS fad diet and you can be skinny too!” 

 Why is it that we are so desperate to find a way to make ourselves different and so willing to believe that outside things are what will make us happy?  My whole life I have tried to use things or people to find peace and contentment.  I had put my faith in those things only to find myself bitterly disappointed and frustrated over and over again.  I’ve heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. 

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The website I have chosen as the Useful Website of the Week is one that I have found to be incredibly informative and, well, useful!  The website for iVillage’s Healthy Living Program is what I am referring to.  This program is the most comprehensive online weight loss program I have found and the part that surprised me the most is that it’s FREE. 

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