and how I came across it.
I have tried all the regular tricks (a.k. fad diets and cleanses) in my bag as well as three months of simply reducing and logging my calories and increasing my exercise level significantly. With all that I have still not lost one pound since the initial weight came off after Ian was born almost two years ago. I haven’t gained weight either, it just won’t budge. Every time I get on the scale, it is just the same thing over and over again.
Something is keeping my body just where it is no matter what I do, so I started doing some research on other ways of looking at the diet and weight loss issue.
I believe that when ideas or topics present themselves to you, especially from a couple of different directions, it means that I need to explore that topic more.
My former book club mate Diane Sewell (also influential in this years resolutions) mentioned the “I Can Make You Thin
I believe that listening to Paul McKenna’s visualization cd was a critical component to my recovery from postpartum depression. It just wasn’t quite the perfect fit for my weight loss issues. It was a daytime cd and I really needed something to listen to as I was going to sleep and it wasn’t quite structured enough for me. I do employ his general theories and they do compliment the Gabriel Method.
Secondly, I was at Barnes and Noble and walked past the “Flat Belly Diet
Now this is a pretty extreme diet and as of right now I am not recommending diets or participating in any of them, just the opposite in fact. But, this book contained some really great information about monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and their benefit to our health and weight loss. I am combining and integrating this complimentary knowledge and practice into my current plan.
And then I came across the Gabriel Method. There is a lot to this and I am not going to go into very much detail because it’s too complex and you really need to read the book
The basic concept is that there may be reasons that your body is wanting to keep you fat and if this is the case then there is very little you can do to stop it. You body has an huge well of chemical resources at its disposal and it will win if you choose to battle with it in this state.
You can get these “FAT programs” to shut off and teach your body to want to be thin, but you must first provide it with an environment of abundance. To do this you must add to your diet, not take away. If you add the right things and give your body what it needs then your body’s chemistry will begin to change and the weight will start to melt away.
Although this is definitely not a diet and outside what most of us have heard about before, it definitely is a lifestyle change. No one is saying you can eat whatever you want and sit on the couch all day and lose weight. Changing your body’s chemistry takes effort and dedication, but this approach eases you into the changes and is very practical and realistic about how it will all work, breaking it down into month by month steps. These steps are all about adding, not subtracting or depriving of anything. At no point does he say not to eat anything that you want to.
Access the whole Gabriel Method Series of articles
A little over a week ago I started The Gabriel Method
Jon Gabriel used to weigh over 400 lbs and he spent years of his life dieting and regaining the weight, spending thousands with Dr. Atkins and continually forcing himself to lose weight only to gain it back and even more. He took it on as his mission to figure out why his body wanted to be fat.
He attended Wharton School of Business, studying biochemistry as well while he was there. He also studied at the VA hospital in Philadelphia. He has researched and read hundreds of research reports, learning everything he could about biochemistry, neurobiology, psychology, nutrition, and much more. He also studies meditation, neuro and psycho linguistics, field of consciousness research and even quantum physics. Even more importantly he started studying his own body.
What he found is quite remarkable and his own weight loss is just one example of it working. He lost over 200 lbs in 2 1/2 years.
I am not usually one to write about something personally unproven, especially when it comes to diet and health, but I really want to document this process so I don’t forget everything I’m learning.
I am feeling really great and enjoying the new foods that I am trying. I am generally in a better mood and sleeping really well. This after only a week with just the smallest of diet changes.
This is a really new program so there isn’t a lot of information about it our there. I am very curious about the process and the outcomes and hope that sharing my experiences will be helpful to others exploring this approach.
It also includes incorporating a lot of new foods that I was generally unfamiliar with, so creating and sharing recipes will be fun.
All of the posts related to my experiences will be gathered under the Article Series tab at the top of the page.
I am more than slightly uncomfortable with the fact that Dr. Laura is the new spokesperson for stay at home moms. Her traditional value system and outdated theories certainly don’t represent me as a stay at home mom.
But with that said, I am glad that someone is speaking to and about stay at home moms. I have said before that I feel very fortunate to be in the position to stay at home with my kids and I do, but it was a choice that we made for our family because we felt that was what was best for our family.
This was a very significant sacrifice for us and we struggled financially for a long time. But with careful planning, stategic budgeting and a lot of self control, we have been able to not only survive, but thrive in our situation. Karli has worked so hard to advance his carreer so that we can build our life and provide for our kids.
And now that the kids are getting a little older there is an opportunity for me to remake myself professionally as well. I put my career on hold to stay at home and it is undeniable that I would have been very successful by now in that career. But, that doesn’t mean that I can never work or build a new career for myself. It just looks a little different now and for me that is the best thing that could have happened. I feel like I am going to get my cake and eat it too – a professional life that fits my lifestyle and the family life that we have chosen to build for ourselves.
Choosing to stay home has been the most rewarding and challenging thing I have ever done. It isn’t easy and I am certainly not lazy or stupid. I have heard that this is a common perception, but I have never experienced that. I work very hard and give of myself on an emotional level that I think is hard to understand or relate to unless you do stay at home. But I also reap the biggest rewards and I think my kids do as well.
But, I also don’t think it is productive to perpetuate the divide between stay at home and working moms. We all work very hard to care for our children in the way that works best for our families. My closest girl friends work outside the home and I have a great deal of respect for them and there choices just as they have respect for mine.
We often joke that we couldn’t imagine how hard it must be to do it the other way around and I think that says that we have made the right choices for us. Moms should support and respect each other, no matter what our circumstances are.
On somewhat of a side note…
A while back my step sister in law (is that the way I say it?) posted the article below on facebook. I felt this was a pretty good representation and until now forgot how much I wanted to share this with you all. Now seems like an appropriate time. Click on the image to make it big enough to read.
- On the right, where that obnoxious ad used to be is now a box of the same size that contains information about the book I am currently reading and the book I have just completed. I am really behind on my book reviews and I will try to get caught up on those over the next couple of days. You will notice that there are are little comments under the books in the box on the right. Those are my comments, not some random comments pulled from amazon. Hover over the book and see the lowest prices available from Amazon and whether it is available for your kindle. Click on the book to get additional information and read more reviews on the Amazon site.
- I have completely re-categorized the site into a smaller number of categories. I am letting tags act as detailed subcategories. I am hoping that this will make content easier to find. If you come across any broken links or page not found errors, please let me know.
- I have also added a new section to the right sidebar called “Make sure to See”. Here I have some featured content and have highlighted some subcategories of content that I think might be worth checking out.
- Finally, I have some content that naturally lends itself to a “series” of articles and am planning on starting a new thread of posts that would do this as well, so I added a tab at the top to highlight those “Article Series”. New posts in these series will appear on the site as usual, but will be added to these highlight pages so they are easily found all together. Currently in that section are the “Mom Tips” series and my “Self Inventory” tarot readings. Make sure to check back soon as I will be starting a new health and nutrition series in the next couple of days.
I hope that you enjoy the new content and find the site easier to use.
The Layout
This is a celtic cross reading. It will examine the best comprehensive strategy for the asked about situation.
I will be using the I-X Major Arcana Cards and I-X of Swords for this reading.
Shuffle the major arcana cards while focusing on the questions and then deal out the first two positions.
Shuffle the sword cards while focusing on the same question and deal out the top four cards into positions 3 through 6.
Combine the remaining swords and major arcana cards and shuffle them together, again concentrating on the sames question and deal out the top four cards from this pile into positions 7 through 10.
The Question: What should my strategy be with regard to my new web development business.
The Spread
1. Covers You (current situation) – X Wheel
2. Crosses You (challenges) – IV Emperor
3. Above You (what is possible) – VIII Swords
4. Below You (how you got here) – X Swords
5. Behind You (recent past) – IX Swords
6. Before You (what’s next) – II Swords
7. Who You Are – I Swords
8. Who They Want You to Be – III Swords
9. What You Want – III Empress
10. What You Get – VI Swords
The Answer
This situation requires your full attention and dedication of all your resources, which you should invest wholeheartedly. Someone wants to assist you in your endeavor. Be careful of giving over too much power as it may result in a sticky situation.
You experienced utter defeat in the past causing this to be a challenging situation for you. Just recently your worst fears surfaced, but all will come together in the near future.
You will be successful in the end, but don’t expect the full support of those around you. You want to be profitable and reap the rewards of success. This success will come by letting go of those things that haunt you from your past and turning to the unexpected for inspiration.
The Cards
X Wheel
My Take*: The wheel of time keeps moving. A feeling that fate has taken over. Remember you have control over many things.
The Card: Change, the feeling that some cosmic machine controls our destiny. Although there is much we can’t control, there is also a lot that we do. There are also things that seem out of our control, but which we actually can control. Things are changing.
Analysis**: This card covers you, representing the current state of the situation. You may currently be feeling like the world is passing you by or simply pulling you along. You must take control of those things within your power and let go of those you are powerless over. Use creative means, think outside the box because change is certainly coming.
IV Emperor
My Take: Order, rules, dominant figure, social justice, watches over and rules the situation, caring for and creating structure in society.
The Card: Fatherhood, authority, laws and regulation. Government, social justice, tyranny, social structure, power of life. Examine the role of power over the situation. Organization and structure. Find your own power.
Analysis: This card crosses you, representing the obstacles faced in the current situation. Your obstacle is to create structure for yourself or others. Hold true to your values, find your inner power and get organized.
VIII Swords
My Take: A prison of your own making, it looks fragile like any sudden move may send those swords plunging in. But the pattern on the sphere suggests strength and integrity. The woman is naked, showing vulnerability.
The Card: Restricted by your own assumptions you have created an inflexible mental map and are now trapped by it. The bubble is strong, only to disappear when new perspective is gained.
Analysis: This card is above you, showing what is possible if the circumstances remain as they are. Reaching your potential will require stepping outside your comfort zone. Look at things from a different direction to gain perspective.
X Swords
My Take: The man is bent over shielding himself from the descending swords. The tattoo on his back is protection, but defeat has already occurred. There is nothing left but to give in to it and move on.
The Card: Anguish and pain, but relief as well. The situation is not manageable. Although things are dire, it is a positive card. You are at the end and are ready for new opportunities and ready to see the potential. The extremes of the conscious mind.
Analysis: This card is below you and speaks to how you got to this point. Sometime long ago you were utterly defeated and it is affecting this situation. There is nothing you can do now, it’s over. Let it go and get ready for new opportunities to emerge.
IX Swords
My Take: The fears we create in our heads, mostly unfounded, but real enough in our minds.
Card: Stress, tension, anxiety caused by your own mental dealings. Your mind is wreaking havoc on your emotions. How we think directly effects our perceptions. Think negative things and negative things will find you.
Analysis: This card is behind you and represents the recent past. You’ve been letting your fears get the best of you. Recently your mind has you riddled with stress and anxiety. Remember we manifest what our mind tells us we are. Cut out the negative talk.
II Swords
My Take*: I’m not really sure about this one. Twos are about couplings, pairs and dichotomies. Swords are about strategies, struggles, power and strength. She is blind folded and the sky is stormy with the sun shining through an opening.
The Card: Comparing, analyzing, contrasting an idea. Beware of over-analyzing to death, causing the new idea to wither and die. The blindfold allows the woman to focus without distractions. You are at a turning point. It can still go either way. Don’t over-think it.
Analysis: You may not be able to see it but soon light will break through the darkness. Soon you will face a Y in the road. Analyze the choice, but don’t wait too long to make up your mind.
I Swords
My Take: Strength, ready to take flight yet grounded with a good foundation. New opportunities will bring success.
The Card: A new idea or aha moment. New opportunities, freedom of thought even when the rest of us feels constrained. Opportunity for change and growth.
Analysis: You are strong and grounded, ready to take off on a new adventure. You are the one with the big idea. This is your adventure.
III Swords
My Take: Grief. She’s crying and holding her heart. The three swords all point toward her heart, like they are piercing it.
The Card: Heartbreak and disappointment caused by your experience with the situation being quite different thatn you expected. These problems are mental rather than emotional.
Analysis: Someone related to this situation is not going to live up to your expectations. Beware not to set them too high.
III Empress
My Take: Mother earth, abundance, reaping the benefits of the harvest. Connecting with nature. Being a caregiver.
The Card: Mothering, nurturing, protecting, raising, growing. Giving birth to and nurturing something. Landscaping. The project must be carefully taken care of and protected. Take better care of yourself.
Analysis: You want to enjoy success and abundance. You want this to be your baby, something you grow and care for. You also want it to provide something just for you.
VI Swords
My Take*: This card is a little spooky. There is definitely a journey taking place. Passing through an arch, a transition. the boat is well protected and the man carries a lamp, lighting the way. His mask may show that the purpose or end result of the trip may not be clear.
The Card: Quiet, steady, cautious forward motion. Proceed slowly and discretely. No need to declare yourself openly. You are even and solid and well positioned to access and influence your subconscious. Think a little outside the box to accomplish the goal.
Analysis: This card position represents that final outcome or what you will get if you remain on the same path. You are embarking on a journey into the unknown. This may be scary, but you are well prepared. Proceed cautiously and quietly. It may be outside your normal thinking, but put your head down and proceed without announcing your intentions. You are on a journey to wholeness.
Reading analysis
I think this is a pretty insightful reading and a really positive sign for the work on my freelance business being a positive experience. I always like it when a reading rings especially true and this one did just that. It picked up on my recent anxiety. A few weeks ago, I even have a full blown anxiety attack while working on a design project. I have been curious why I have been so afraid to put myself out there and obviously something happened long ago that is setting that up. Wish I knew what it was.
I think it is interesting that thinking in new ways, outside the box, outside your comfort zone, came up consistently throughout this reading. This could mean several things, but really I think it is just speaking to the cocoon I have built around myself and that I am going to have to put myself out there in order to make this succeed and that can be a little uncomfortable for me.
It is just generally good to hear that things in my life are stabilizing and that I am finally in a place where I am ready to take on new challenges and embark on new journeys. Very encouraging.
*Please remember that the my take sections are my first impressions and feelings about a card. Since I am exploring a new deck, this is the first time I have taken a good look at some of these cards. They may or may not be reliable or true to the meaning of the card. I like to take my feelings from a card and the cards intended meaning and combine them for a cohesive analysis. In this way I am consistently improving on my knowledge and abilities.
** I have added a new section to my card analysis. In this section I will combine my thoughts and the intended card meaning and apply them to the position within the reading. This is a way to expand on the meaning of each individual card in the reading.
I am available for web design and development services on a freelance basis. Please take a look at the site for all the details.
I have been on quite the journey over the last year and I feel really good that I am finally at a place that I feel I have the time, energy and enthusiasm to take on new clients and start to build my business and reach my goal of contributing to the monthly family budget by the end of the year.
I am excited about the opportunities that lie before me and look forward to helping small business owners take advantage of all that the internet has to offer.