Are You Eating Something or is Something Eating You?

April 12, 2013

Good Morning Mintdom!

As many of you know, I have been sick and have been away from Mintdom for a couple of weeks. I am feeling much better although a little stuck in my writing. I started two other topics this morning; however, this one phrase sticks in my mind:

Feelings are not fact – the fact is you have feelings.

Why is this important? Well… for an emotional eater, it is very important. Many of my feelings are not a fact in my life; however, I DO have them. Today, I am learning to distinguish between feeling real physical hunger and emotional hunger. Here is a little cheat sheet for distinguishing between emotional (feeling hunger) and actual physical hunger.

Emotional Hunger          

Strong urge often paired up with strong emotions
No physical signs
Is above the neck
A desire for a particular food – you have to have it!
Is urgent – have to have it now|
Paired with upsetting emotion
Involves automatic absent minded eating
You do not notice that you are full and keep eating
You feel guilty

Physical Hunger

Is gradual – your stomach growls
Is open to different foods
Is based in the stomach – growling, gnawing, rumbling sensations
Is patient
Occurs out of a physical need
Involves deliberate eating and an awareness of eating
Stops when full
Realizes that eating is necessary

As I write this (rather long post), I decided that I need to print this little cheat sheet out and keep it with me as a reminder to eat more out of physical hunger. Honestly, I think my stomach rarely growls. When was the last time that your stomach rumbled?

AffirMINTion: I will not eat to my feelings today. 

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

PS. I would like to wish a happy birthday to JP Blankenship who is an awesome young realtor on our team and who one of the nicest young men that I know. In fact, if you ask half the builders in Loudoun County, they will say the same. JP is smart, energetic, kind, and tenacious in addition to being a wonderful work mate and friend. Happy birthday, JP, I hope it is a GREAT one!

A Mini Minty MoMINT 

My mom says…. Happy birthday, JP… AND I LIKE IT! 

Life is Minty Fresh!

xoxo

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A Fine Line

February 18, 2013

Good morning Mintdom

Having routines in life is a good thing. Routines help you stick to that exercise program. Routines help you stay disciplined. Routines give you momentum. You have to step out of your routine in order to be spontaneous. While I do believe that routines are good, there is a fine line between holding on to a routine for security and being afraid to step out of your routine and your comfort zone.

I cannot say that I am ever board, but on occasion, I do feel stuck.  When I am feeling that way, a good thing for me to do is to examine my life, my days and my routine. If I am honest with myself, I may feel stuck because I am clinging to a routine and afraid to step out of my comfort zone.  Anyone that knows me knows that I hate missing anything and self-examination works well for me.

Are your routines good for you or are you using them as a way to stay in your comfort zone; it is a fine line.

AffirMINTion: I love my quiet time each morning.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

“Don’t be afraid to expand yourself, to step out of your comfort zone. That is where the joy and the adventure lie.”  

~ Herbie Hancock ~

A Mint Minty MoMINT

 My mom says… life is an adventure with me…. And I LIKE it!

 Life is Minty Fresh!

 

xoxo

 

 

 

Can we go on an adventure now?

Hey – Watch Your Language!

January 28, 2013

Good morning, Mintdom,

Words are powerful – they can either hurt or heal (yourself or others). Here is a challenge for you, IF you CHOOSE to accept it. Today, listen to the words you choose during the day and take note of it. This evening, look back at your notes. How did your words, your language affect you, your day or others? Will you do something different tomorrow?

Here are just a few things to watch out for –

Swearing is a Bad Habit: My dad always told me that when you use bad language, it makes you appear less intelligent because it looks like you are unable to pull a better word out of your vocabulary.

“Must swear off from swearing. Bad habit.” – Rutherford B Hayes

Watch Your Words: Words can change your reality if you say you can do something – many times, it happens. If you say you cannot to do something, you probably cannot.

If someone in our office is overheard speaking badly about themselves, someone shouts (softly) BOING, BOING; it is a reminder to speak kindly of ourselves. When we started this years ago, you would hear, BOING, BOING a lot. You rarely hear it these days. We are out of the habit.

“If you think you can do a thing or you think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

Keep Your Word: If you say you will do something – than do it; however, be careful what you promise.

“One lie has the power to tarnish a thousand truths.” – Al David

AffirMINTion: I like to keep my language soft and sweet.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says… it never hurts to be kind… and I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

xoxo

We Can Change Our Mind!

January 23, 2013

Good morning Mintdom

I thought I found my ‘Word of the Year’ (devotion) at the beginning of this month; however, another word keeps coming to my mind too strongly to ignore. That word is ‘Now’. My mom told me once, “If you think of it, do it now”. That is such excellent advice and I decided to change my word now!

I need to put this away, now.
I will turn off the TV, now.
I will exercise, now.
I will clean my kitchen drawers, now.
I changed my word of the year to now, now.

So there are two messages to my post today: You can change your mind if something is not working for you and if you think of it, do it now. Of course, you might not be able to do something now; however, you CAN write it down, now. Do you have a ‘Word of the Year’?

AffirMINTion: I can choose to change my mind, now!

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says… I have choices… and I like it!

Life is Minty Fresh!

xoxo

 

 

 

 

My choice of pillows to sleep on

Try This….

1/21/2013

Here is a challenge for you: For one hour today, just do one thing at a time. Whatever you do, just do that one thing only. If you are starting your day with a cup of coffee, just drink the coffee without watching TV, reading or listening to music. Just drink your coffee.

Continue this practice with whatever you are doing for one hour. Were you able to do it? How was it? Did you learn anything? In the book, “The Power of Full Engagement”, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz warn that multitasking results in divided attention, lower quality of work and a shallowness of connection to others. Do you remember a time when someone gave you his or her full attention? How did that make you feel?  Do you remember a time when you gave a project YOUR full attention? How did it turn out?

“Our life is frittered away by   detail… Simplify, simplify.” – Henry Thoreau

I would love to hear if any of you took up this practice – even if it is just for one hour this week.

AffirMINTion: I am learning to focus on one thing at a time.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says… she likes to focus on spending time with only me for a time in the mornings… and I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!   

 

 

 

xoxo

 

Minty Mondays: Again and Again!

03/19/2012

A Mini Minty MoMINT

“Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb but how well you bounce.” – Vivian Komori

My mom says… never give up on your dreams… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

I AM Serious!

Good morning Mintdom!

I am still wearing my pedometer and I will not bore you with a step count however, my steps are a low of 4,200 and a high of 11,339 steps. I normally stay in the 5,500 to 6,000 range. Looking at this, I need to step it up! LOL The one thing that I DO, do well when it comes to moving is that I keep putting that pedometer on and I keep working at improving.

I think I get that persistence from my parents who are of tough Minnesota stock. For example, my mom just had a hip replacement in January and she has amazed us all by her perseverance in getting back on her feet. She did everything right with determination and without complaint. She has been walking without a cane for a few weeks. My dad had chest pains on Thursday, his doctor admitted him to the hospital and on Friday AFTER a battery of tests had a stent put in. My mom was at his side the whole time. He was out of the hospital on Saturday, and ALL this is in the midst of getting their house ready to put on the market this week!

On a little side note – when my dad had his first EKG they told him he had the EKG of a 20 year old. After the Nuclear Stress test, they told my dad that he had an EKG of a 30 year old. I told my dad that he better get out of the hospital before he turned 40! BTW, my dad is actually 80 years old! He is a GREAT example of perseverance – he has exercised daily for his life!

I think this video is a GREAT example of perseverance.  http://youtu.be/wWt3CmSIcKA

AffirMINTion: I persevere.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

Minty Mondays: Victory and Celebrations

02/06/2012 

“What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory – victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.” – Winston Churchill

 A Mini Minty MoMINT

 My mom says…when we reach our goals we can celebrate… AND I LIKE IT!

 Life is Minty Fresh!

 

 

 

 

xoxo

Ready to Party!

 

02/05/ 2012 – 5,972 Steps

I love this quote from Winston Churchill and have it on my bathroom mirror to remind me to be bold, persistent, and diligent in working towards my goals. It also reminds me that victory does not come easily and/or quickly.  I know that my aim is to lead a healthy lifestyle. This quote reminds me how serious I need to be when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle, for without it, there is literally no survival. Of course, Minty reminds us to celebrate when we achieve our goals. Sometimes I think that Fun is really her middle name and not Fresh!

What are your aims? Do you take them seriously? Are you celebrating your victories?

AffirMINTion: I live a healthy lifestyle and celebrate my victories!

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

Minty Mondays: Life’s a Party!

01/09/2012

A Mini Minty MoMINT

I have decided that the stuff falling through the cracks is confetti and I am having a party! – Betsy Canas Garmon

My mom says… cleaning up after a party is not so much fun, but having the party with family and friends is worth it… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s Party!!!!!

PS – My mom says that this is a good song to get you moving… AND I LIKE IT!

http://www.tinyurl.com/aparty2nite

Good morning Mintdom!

So nice of Minty to give me a little excuse for letting some of my obligations fall through the cracks – at least it is a nice visual. I am finding it a little difficult to keep up with my life these days. I actually missed a party this weekend – now you KNOW I am a little overwhelmed if I missed a party. I actually fell asleep and when I woke up – it had already started . I was SO looking forward to it! I also missed a writing deadline – yikes. That is some of the confetti and even though Minty makes it look somewhat pretty, it needs to be cleaned up. Today, I will prioritize my list both short term and long term items. In addition, I finally bought a new planner and that will help. When I am overwhelmed with confetti, re-planning and prioritizing helps me!

“How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself – so always think positively.” – Norman Vincent Peale

Forgive the brevity of this post, but today is the last day of Grand Jury Duty for me and I and I am running out the door (luckily I am not leaving any confetti behind me ha ha).

AffirMINTion: I am organized in 2012!

Make is a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

The New Year is Not a Do-Over!

01/02/2012

Happy New Year Mintdom!

Originally, I planned this post with some reflections of the past year and my goals for this year until I saw this quote. Although I did take, time to reflect, my focus is on this year. This quote is my theme for the first quarter of the year.

“The New Year is not a do-over; it is an opportunity to take your next big step.”  Author Unknown

I love the start of a new year – so many opportunities lie ahead of me! I love the sound of 2012 and I think it is going to be a GREAT year! I know that some of you do not like to make New Year resolutions; however, I think it is the perfect time to do so. My resolution is simple and challenging; here it is.

 

I resolve to meet my goals.

 My overall theme of the whole year is to (drum roll please) take a risk.

There – I said it! Let it be said, let it be done. This year I want to do more to stay out of my comfort zone, and now that I have it in writing for the world to see makes me accountable (right Nancy? LOL); it is also a helpful tool (hint, hint) in achieving my goals. I will share my goals throughout the year, but my big one – my opportunity to take MY next BIG STEP is to complete my first book by the end of June. Yikes – I am really pushing myself; see how it works? Have you written your goals yet and shared them with someone? I know it works to write and share them, feel free to do so here. In any case, I wish all of you a healthy and prosperous 2012!

AffirMINTion: I am a risk-taker.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT 

My mom says that writing a goal is the first step to accomplishing it… AND I LIKE IT! 

Happy New Year! 

Life is Minty Fresh!

 

xoxo

 

 

A Snuggy and a blanket Christmas presents – so cozy!

 

 

 

Minty Monday: Starting Again is OK

11/30/2011

 Mini Minty MoMINT

 “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” – Dolly Parton

My mom says… I can start my day over at any time… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

I think I need to start my day over

Good Morning Mintdom,

I love Dolly Parton’s quote. I think that sometimes I get married to an idea that is not working because it is comfortable, instead of being open to new ideas. I know there are also times that I go impulsively through my day without giving a lot of thought or planning to my day UNTIL it starts spinning out of control – Yikes!

The days that I stay in my quiet time a little longer instead of plunging into the day’s activities go a lot smoother. The days that I make a plan in advance are more productive than when I wonder aimlessly through my days. I just read during my quiet time the other day that a great athlete takes time to prepare mentally before the competition.

Do you have a quiet time each day? Do you plan (it is not written in blood) your day in advance? OR you have to start paving a new road often? I like the idea that I can start a new road; although I do not want to have to start too many that do not go anywhere. I think that quiet and planning time is crucial to any day, any goal, and for living a healthy lifestyle. If you are in the middle of a day that is not going well, remember that you CAN start your day over any time you choose to.

 AffirMINTion: I love my quiet time each day.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?
http://tinyurl.com/watchawaitn4

Life is good!