this morning to reread some of the nutritional stuff as I have been concentrating on my mental health and identifying and eradicating my emotional blockage. I was looking through the monthly plans and nutritional information and realized that I am already doing everything in month 3, just naturally without thinking about it. How cool is that?
Unfortunately, I am still giving into the still too frequent junk food cravings and not being as active as I should. I find that when I am busy and overwhelmed, instead of turning to exercise as a stress release and break from it all, I look at it like the worst possible thing ever. Rather silly, really. But, I am not beating myself up over it. This just gives me tangible goals for this next month.
This month I will begin using the craving killing visualization. Couple of interesting things about this…
I have been searching through the book for weeks looking for the section on the craving killing visualization and could not find it for the life of me. I swear I flipped through every page. Then this morning I opened the book directly to that page. There is was, right in front of me. I love that kind of thing. I guess I am ready to take this step now.
I also think that it is interesting that this is the same visualization that Paul McKenna
Another thing to concentrate on this month are adding in activity several times a week. I have many opportunities for this, it isn’t a matter or not having enough time, I just need to do it. I will start adding being physically active to my evening visualizations and using the idea of making the better choice. When the choice arises simply say yes to a stress relieving, personal time, break from the family, feeling great activity and no to sitting around wishing I was doing something else.
And lastely, this month I need to start adding a morning smart session. I think this will be really calming and helpful for me, starting my day with a more positive and centered attitude and a focus on what I want to accomplish during the day.
If things keep going the way they are with my business, I am definitely going to need this increased focus and productivity, never mind someone to help clean my house and possibly even watch my kids a couple mornings a week. All I have to say is be careful what you manifest for yourself, you just quite possibly might get it. A little overwhelming, yet really really exciting.
Karli gets up 15 to 20 minutes earlier than me with the kids so this gives me plenty of time to lay in bed and wake up a little and then do 10 minutes of SMART mode visualizations. I know, isn’t he great?
On the emotional front, I have taken a big step that I am really excited about. I have signed up for the Landmark Forum seminar. This is a three and a half day very intensive look at yourself. A good friend of ours just did it and he said that it was really life changing for him. Karli also signed up to take it the month after I do.
I really think this is one of those right things at the right moments for us. We have been through so much over the last year. We as individuals and our relationship could really use a serious retuning. I have been talking for months about needing to get away for a few days and just be with myself, but haven’t gotten around to it. This is the perfect compromise, three and half full days (a total of 40 hours) with myself, if not by myself. And I get to sleep in my own bed and kiss my kids each morning.
Can you tell I am excited about this?
Overall, a good month despite the fact that I still don’t think I have lost more than a few pounds (no weighing until October). No worries, all in the right time.
Get The Gabriel Method Book Now!
I just went back and read the emotional obesity chapters of the book and all of it applied to me. He asks several questions to help you identify whether this issue is holding you back and if it is insists that it be addressed before you ever even discuss eating habits, cravings exercise and past successes and failures. After the emotional issues have been addressed and resolved then a plan can be put into place to address the rest of it.
The questions go something like this…
- Does being thin feel safe to you?
- Can you imagine yourself thin?
- If someone gives you a compliment on your appearance, does it make you feel happy and confident or threatened and uneasy?
The last two definitely apply to me and the first one just confuses me so I’m guessing that means I can count that one too. Since I started this whole thing the body visualization has always been the hardest for me. I just can’t see myself as that thin person. The thing that weirds me out about that is that I used to be thin, at times very thin. So you wouldn’t think that imagining myself like that again would be so difficult. The brain is a bazaar entity.
I have been noticing over the last couple of weeks (and I think where that desperate sad post from last week came from) that even though I am mentally really dedicated to this and have logically set up my environment for success, I find every way and excuse I can to sabotage the process.
- I “forget” to take my supplements
- I sneak food. I will scarf down a burger or milkshake, candy or doughnut and then hide the evidence.
- I will make up any excuse I can to avoid exercising, even going to yoga, which I love, or a hike with the dog, which is empowering, relaxing and really rewarding. If there is some reason I can come up with I will take it.
- I tell myself that just going to sleep (without the CD) will feel good and make me more motivated the next day.
I even avoided reading the emotional section of the book with any focus or meaning. I just skimmed through it. Today I read every word.
When I have talked to my therapist about my weight, she always says don’t worry about it now, you have enough on your plate. Do the emotional work and then deal with the weight.
Another advisor of mine reminded me that I simply need to find out why it is that I don’t feel worthy and correct that and then everything will fall into place as it should. It is only me that is holding me back.
With the Life Path Integration therapy we are doing it is even possible that we will be able to target whatever the emotional trigger might be and fix it. It always amazes me how the universe will provide you with all the tools you need if you just listen closely enough. Many things have been coming to me from many different directions lately and thankfully I am aware enough to be grabbing them.
Karli has also encouraged me to give the emotional stuff more time and stop worrying so much about the physical stuff. Now that I am feeling better and motivated and productive for the first time in a long time, I am finding it very hard not to want to tackle everything all at once, to take on more than I can handle. I feel like I am fighting in every direction and that I may simply just need to give into the process. Pretty hard to do for a total control freak.
I am so grateful that my husband is supportive of me through all this. He has had his moments of frustration and worry and even a few in anger and hurtfulness, as is only natural when you spouse is going through something like this. He tries his best to encourage me and prod me to work a little harder.
Every logical part of me thinks it’s fantastic that I have a husband who loves me the way I am and truly cares about my well being. But emotionally I think I kinda resent him for it and rebel against it. This is hard to say, a sort of it’s not you it’s me scenario, but I think I might have to tell him to stop with the encouragement, because just like when we were trying to quit smoking, the gentle nudges and reminders, the words of encouragement in my head remind me that I am failing rather than reminding me that I can succeed. This is something I need to work on, but in the meantime, I think we just need to drop the whole thing for a while, let me heal what’s broken without any added pressure.
Jon says in his book that while he was gaining the weight, his wife never said a word about it and that when he was ready, he felt he was better prepared to lose the weight because of that.
So, I concentrate on the emotional part and keep preparing my body from a biochemical standpoint so that I will be that much more ahead of the game once I can really target my eating and exercise habits. I just feel like I need to stop putting so much pressure on myself.
To all of you looking to the Gabriel Method as a magic pill, I am sorry. I don’t have instant results to report, or really any weight loss at all. I can tell you that it is helping me to change my life, to learn about myself and face my fears and tackle the emotional crap that has had me by the throat for most of my life. It is also helping me learn what it feels like to be a healthy person, teaching my body that it feels good to be nourished and that eating foods that mess with your chemistry makes you tired and cranky and feel generally icky.
This is my first step and the thought that on the other side of this journey I could be not only thinner and more fit, but also a more whole and emotional healthy person is very exciting to me.
I am going to keep taking the supplements and integrating healthy foods into my diet, but I am throwing out the schedule and week 1 week 2 month 1 stuff for a while until I can answer the questions above with confidence and positivity. Fixing myself needs to be my priority right now. I have made huge progress, I just need to finish it before I start worrying about pounds and waist measurements and scheduled regimented programs.
I’m ok if I stay this weight forever, as long as I don’t gain any more. (those of you who have read the book will understand the meaning and gravity of this statement)
So here is the new plan (because I wouldn’t really be me if I didn’t have one)…
- Keep working hard at therapy and stop distracting us with day to day bullshit. I have demons to fight so let’s get on with it.
- Listen to the CD every night, no excuses, no exceptions
- Start reading about past life regression
- Read the book No Boundary
by Ken Wilber (Jon mentions it in a section of the book that really resonates with me)
- Actively radiate love, forgiveness and appreciation
- Accept the negative and accept myself and my body just as they are. This includes no scales.
Buy the Gabriel Method Book Now!
I would like to thank everyone for the unexpected and very much appreciated outpouring of support. Your words of encouragement made a really bad day a whole lot better and gave me the confidence to push past it. Thank-you.
I wish I could say my fear is gone, but alas that simply isn’t how it is in this case. But, by owning my weaknesses I have come to understand them a little better and can now move forward with my eyes open.
I wish I could snap my fingers and make the self doubt and mistrust go away, but life doesn’t work that way no matter how much we wish it could be. The only thing to do now is take one day at a time and enjoy the good ones and let the bad ones go. I just need to keep moving and find a way to have some success.
I have several ways of going about this. My freelance business is doing well and I am having success with my therapy. The next step is giving over to my ability to be thin again.
It is time to buckle down and really commit to some way of getting healthy. I talk about this a lot, but each new thing lasts a couple of weeks and then dwindles slowly until it just stops all together.
So, I am committing to the Gabriel Method, which I believe addresses my personal health issues. I have come up with a plan and although i am not starting completely over like I thought I would have to, I am starting fresh and considering this day 1.
I made myself a sort of sign that I taped to the kitchen cabinets. On this piece of paper is my meals planned out for the week. This is not ‘eat this at this time’ but really just a list of good healthy meals that I have planned out in advance and have available to me so when I go to think about what I want for lunch, I can look at the list and see several things to choose from, any of which would be just fine, but steering me away from the dangers of standing in front of the fridge or pantry, hungry and vulnerable.
I also have included a daily schedule of stuff that I need to do, like taking supplements, drinking water, eating a snack, doing visualization, eating the sun and taking a power nap as well as a list of things to remember.
I will make a new one of these each week to help me remain focused.
In order for these habits to truly take, I need to do the same set of things every day, not just when I feel like it. I think that because this is not a diet with a regimented food and exercise plan that it is easy to take the eat what you want when you want for granted. This doesn’t work if you aren’t listening to what it is your body wants.
For example, the afternoon rolls around and I always crave sweets then, so even if it isn’t what my body wants I still eat it without really even thinking about it. Where as if I had just listened and tried a couple of techniques to give my body what it really does want, I might have been able to avoid eating that. And if after all that I still really craved that sweet treat, then I could have eaten it and enjoyed without guilt, knowing that those cravings will go away on there own with time.
It is really a change in the way I think about it. This is what happened when I finally quit smoking and I am positive that a fundamental shift in my thinking will be necessary with this as well.
Much like when I quit smoking for the last time, I must give over to it and accept that this is the way things are going to be from now on, that I have made this decision and there is not turning back from it.
requirements – Protein, omega3 and live food.
Sprouted bread makes really tasty french toast. Very satisfying and you can’t tell the whey powder is there at all. Yea!
French Toast
1 serving
1 slice of sprouted bread
1 omega egg
2 T organic milk
1 T ground flax seed
1/2 scoop unflavored whey powder
pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
2 t organic butter
Wisk the egg, milk, flax, whey and nutmeg together until there are no lumps or bumps.
Melt the butter in a frying pan over just more than medium heat.
Dip the bread into the egg mixture, flipping and allowing it to soak up as much of the egg mixture as possible.
Place the bread into the pan and pour any remaining egg mixture on top, trying to keep side spillage to a minimum.
When nice and brown on one side flip and brown on the other side. Then turn down the heat to medium low and continue to cook until the center is semi-firm to the touch.
Place on a plate and top with a large pile of berries or another favorite fruit. Drizzle a little pure maple syrup over the top and enjoy.
Buy The Gabriel Method book now!
I really really want to weigh myself. I can’t help it, the scale just calls to me. I have put it away, but just because it is put away doesn’t mean I can’t go and dig it out. It is only the thought that I may get on the scale and that same number will still be there that is keeping me from it.
I do know that all my pants are too big. I am going to go shopping for new jeans on Friday. We’ll see how it goes. Unfortunately, I think I am now in between sizes, which totally sucks. I hate shopping for pants almost as much as I hate shopping for swimsuits which I only hate half as much as shopping for dresses. Did I say that I am not built like anything they use as a model for making clothes?
I feel like my body has been battling itself this week. Some of this is due to my own personal weaknesses and others is a sign that this program is working.
I have learned that I am not very good outside of my routine. We had house guests this last week and I did pretty good through the first part of the day, but then as the day progresses, I would forget to drink water or take my supplements. But, Monday morning came and I got right back on schedule and I guess that is really the important part.
The change in the kinds of foods that I am craving is really the most shocking thing to me. We went out to dinner on Saturday night for a friend’s birthday and instead of ordering heavy carb-laden food, I ordered a small filet and a salad. I did eat a little bit of an appetizer and several glasses of wine, but compared to how I would have indulged, this was a big step. The most surprising part was that this is what I wanted. The thought of mashed potatoes or french fries was really not appealing at the time.
I am finding that in the afternoon my body is getting really confused. This has always been the time of day that is most challenging for me. I get really hungry, usually for sweets and then overindulge in random things around the house because I can’t find the perfect thing to satisfy this particular craving.
This last week though, I have still been getting the feeling of hunger, but I can’t nail down what it is I’m hungry for.
I go through my head…
sweet? no.
Salty? no.
Hmmm.
Maybe I’m not hungry?
But, I feel hungry.
I drink a glass of water and feel better for a few minutes.
Then, it creeps back in.
So, I must be hungry, but nothing sounds good.
It’s pretty frustrating. Like right now, I am writing this and can’t stop thinking about what I can eat. What I should do is have a good healthy snack, but that just sounds gross.
I am hoping that this is part of the evolution and the hunger and ambiguity will dissipate soon.
I also found out that I am having problems with my visualization cd. Last night I actually stayed awake for a while into the cd and at some point before it was over, it just stopped. I don’t know how long this is been happening or if it ever worked correctly, so that is discouraging. I need to determine if this is a battery issue or an issue with the cd I burned before I go to bed tonight. I did notice that my battery charger light wasn’t on when I went to get new batteries last night (yup, stopped half way through with new batteries).
I have been very faithful about my body and next day visualizations before bed and right when I get up and find that the next day visualizations are really helping my productivity. Balancing freelance work at home with care for the fam with all that that entails and trying to find time for myself in there as weel can be pretty challenging, but I seem to be handling it better and better each day.
During my visualization I focus on the large items that need to get done the next day, making sure to note that things will come easily and obstacles will be easily and effortlessly overcome. I also make sure to include that I will remain calm and patient with the kids and enjoy all the little moments with them and that I will have adequate time to accomplish all that needs to be done as well as time to relax and take care of myself and have quality time with my kids and husband. A lot to ask out of a day, but it is working. Don’t underestimate what is possible.
I find the body visualizations a little more challenging. I have my picture torn out of a yoga magazine of my perfect bod and I can see all the qualities in her that I want to have, but when I close my eyes I still see her. I am finding it very difficult to visualize myself looking like that. It’s a worth thing I’m sure, so I just paste my face on her body and keep trying. It will come. I am worth it and worthy of living the life I dream of in the body I create (Whew, I can say it out loud).
Overall, things are going pretty well, although not as great as I was hoping. I am very impatient with this type of thing. I constantly need to remind myself that this is a life change and it will take time and that each day I am learning and growing and taking steps in the right direction and that is what this is really all about.
encourages is eating a large breakfast to get your day going. Like all other meals using this approach, breakfast should include a good source of protein, omega 3 and live foods. You should also take a digestive enzyme capsule before eating to help with digestion.
So, let’s break these down a little.
Protein
As explained in the book, most of the protein sources we have available to us now are not easily digested by our bodies and the amino acids can not be assimilated and so are then converted into sugar, which is converted to and stored as fat. It is possible that as little as 15% of the protein that we eat is being properly used.
So what protein sources are the best bang for your buck? Well, Jon recommends whey protein powder, which I tried and I think it is really gross. It’s more the smell than anything and it can ruin a perfectly good smoothie. I am going to keep trying to find OK ways to use it and I think a little practice about how much is tolerable in what things will help a lot.
So far, i have found that adding a good amount of citrus (I use lemon juice) to a smoothie cuts the whey protein powder flavor quite a bit and adds a nice tartness to the smoothie. I have also found that adding a little bit to pancake mix or french toast batter is tolerable. It is not supposed to change the flavor of foods it is added to and you are supposedly able to add it to anything creamy, but it does taste and it tastes bad, so it’s really a trial and error thing.
Other and more tasty sources of protein include…
- Raw Nuts and Seeds
- Free Range Chicken and Grass Fed Beef
- Fish, especially freshwater
- Organic Yogurt
- White Cheese made from Goat or Sheep’s milk
I have taken to sprinkling raw nuts or seeds on everything as a way to supplement my protein rather than the whey powder route. Not as concentrated, but much better tasting. I have also had fun exploring new cheeses.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
We’ve all heard the news lately about omega fatty acids and how we need to eat more fish. In the past, our food provided us with an equal amount of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Now, with the way our food is processed and prepared, we now take in 20 times as much omega 6 as omega 3 which causes inflammation in the body and results in all kinds of physical ailments and triggers the FAT programs (actually “Famine And Temperature” not fat) that can cause us to retain unnecessary weight.
Good sources of Omega 3 include…
- Flax seed and oil
- Omega 3 enriched eggs
- Fish – specifically wild cold water fish
- Organic Meat and Dairy
Flax seeds are awesome and can be sprinkled on everything without really affecting the taste at all. The catch is they must be freshly ground for maximum potency. I bought a second coffee grinder for this and just grind up a little flax while prepping each meal and sprinkle it on everything.
I also use omega eggs, which I think are also a decent source of protein. We are trying to eat one fish meal a week, usually alternating between shrimp and fish. We have never been fish eaters so this is a step for us. Jon also recommends taking a significant amount of omega 3 supplements, which I have started to do this week.
Live Foods
This just means that the food is alive and unprocessed. Lots of fruits and veggies, preferably organic. Add an extra serving to each meal is my general rule.
Essential Sugars
This is the carb category. This is definitely the one I am most confused about. In one sentence he says that bread and starches are “dead carbs” and provide no significant nutritional value, but in the next section he talks about how good for you sprouted bread is.
Well, until I figure it out I am really enjoying sprouted bread. This is my favorite find from this program. It is so yummy. I especially enjoy the kind with seeds. It is very different than even a regular piece of wheat bread, but I have completely replaced all other bread, except for the occasional onion bun (I love these).
Sprouted bread can be found in the organic section of your grocery store and sometimes it is refrigerated. My Trader Joes carries several varieties and I found some local bakery sprouted seed bread at my local Thriftway that is amazing. It works well for toast, sandwiches and makes really amazing french toast. Yum Yum Yum.
Table sugar and processed breads are the worst of the “dead carbs”. Jon recommends Xylatol as his sweetener of choice. It is pretty spendy so I haven’t gone there yet, but will probably pick some up next time I have a little extra in the weekly food budget. Supposedly it tastes natural and can be used as a one to one replacement for sugar. For now, I have switched to raw turbinado sugar for my coffee (which is really the only thing I use table sugar directly for).
Fruit, of course, is the best source of essential sugars.
There are some timing issues that can be important when it comes to carbs. Eat carbs as early in the day as possible and as late in the meal as possible. This encourages better digestion and less left overs that can be turned into fat.
In addition to wondering about good bread versus dead carbs, I am also curious how rice fits into all this. There is no mention of brown or wild rice, which I thought were pretty good for you. Guess I will have to do some research or maybe I will email Jon and ask him. Supposedly you can do that from his website.
Supplements
This is my supplement regimen each day…
- Before Breakfast – A probiotic and a digestive enzyme. The probiotic you take should be the kind you purchase from and store in the refrigerator, available at your local health food store. A good all around profile digestive enzyme
is best.
- In the Afternoon – A multi-vitamin and a multi-mineral and my acai supplement. The guy I talked to at my local health store recommended Real Food Organics Ultimate Daily Nutrition
for my daily multi. It is made from organic food sources only. Here’s a look at the nutritional information.
- With Dinner – A digestive enzyme and several Omega 3 capsules. This
is the omega 3 supplement that I take. According to my guy, it was the second best one, but the top rated one was a little cost prohibitive.
How It All Comes Together
This may sound like a lot of work. Karli and I were talking about it the other night and he was saying how he could “never do what I do”. He is pretty picky and particular when it comes to food so some of these things might be a stretch for him (mostly the flax seed scares him I think).
But really, I don’t feel like any of this has inconvenienced me or is hard or that I am suffering at all. Eating a big breakfast is something that I am not used to doing and I have had to carve out time to do so. But, I am not depriving myself of anything and once I had a system in place, all the adds, supplements and meditations weren’t a big deal at all.
I think the visualisation CD has a lot to do with this. I usually fall asleep within the first few minutes so I’m not really sure exactly what he’s planting in there, but whatever it is I am feeling really good about this whole process and unlike all the “diets” I have tried before, I’m not missing anything.
This is just stage one and many more changes and additions are coming, but I feel prepared and unafraid and am sure that those changes will come easily as well.
Now, a few days later, I don’t really want to eat the breads at all. Last night we had garlic shrimp and pasta and I couldn’t even bring myself to eat the very small amount of pasta I put on my plate and today I took the kids to lunch and nothing really sounded good and I ended up tearing most of the bread off my meal and eating out just the center.
Something is definitely going on here. I am finding that I still crave the sweets and carbs, but that they aren’t very satisfying when I eat them. I am still eating them though, because depriving the cravings is definitely not the point here. I do end up leaving food on the table though because it just isn’t really doing much for me.
Jon Gabriel claims that as we add more nutrients and help our bodies digest better, that our cravings will change and that eventually we will stop craving the food that isn’t good for us. Although it is early in this process (this is not a short term fix, but a new healthier lifestyle), my cravings are definitely changing. I feel differently about food and am seeing the results.
Now, I have no idea whether I have gained or lost any weight. Jon recommends not weighing yourself for the first six months for several reasons. First of all, as you stop depriving your body of the food it is craving, it is quite possible you will gain a little weight early on. Second, it is imperative that you come to love yourself in your current body and weighing yourself all the time just undermines that. And lastly, weight tends to come off in spurts and so why worry yourself with plateaus. This part is really hard for me, I am obsessive about weighing myself.
The approach is broken down into a four month plan. New habits take 21 days to form so each set of new habits is added for 1 month before adding more.
In month one, I am starting the evening and morning visualizations, listening to the CD before I go to sleep, taking a probiotic with two glasses of water first thing before eating anything and changing the way I eat breakfast. I am increasing the amount of and quality of food I eat for breakfast, adding in as many of the recommended foods as possible.
In addition to this, I take an Acai supplement and a multivitamin in the afternoon. I also need to add a multimineral to the afternoon supplements and will purchase these this weekend along with digestive enzymes and omega 3 supplements.
This is a lot more supplements than even I am used to taking and I was already taking several of these and have been known to add a few more in from time to time. But, I am ok with taking pills. It doesn’t bother me and I find it a really easy and consistent way to chug enough water throughout the day, which is something I am normally terrible at.
It’s all about adding in more nutritious food that our bodies can easily convert into what it needs to run smoothly and cutting out the reasons our body might want to be fat. I am not denying myself anything at all, not even that doughnut if I want it.
For all the details, you really need to read the book, but a couple of the major adds for me have been flax seed, whey powder, sprouted wheat bread, raw nuts and more fruits and vegetables. Although I never would have thought I would, I am really enjoying it all. I am loving the sprouted grain bread. My Trader Joe’s carries several varieties and it is oh so good. I can’t say I am a big fan of protein powder, so I have been trying to use as many other sources of good protein as I can so I can minimize using it until I figure out how to use it properly.
For me, the biggest thing has been reducing the negative thinking. I am a ruminater. I just hash shit over in my head like nobody’s business. This is something we have been working extensively on in therapy and something he said in his book clicked with me and I have made major ground with this in a very short period of time.
There are more than a few things I am still confused about, but I continue to learn and change and will continue to post as I figure things out.
This is not a diet drug. If you believe that crap about losing 40 pounds by just taking a pill then you are an idiot, just like I was.
The fact is that I too hoped that it would be some miracle and that I would magically lose all the baby weight in 2 months. I even combined it with a colon cleanser because I heard that worked better. No surprise here that I didn’t lose even a pound.
But a miracle like that does not exist, it just doesn’t. Losing weight and getting fit is about changing the way you eat and exercise and it is just as simple as that. There is no magic pill, just like everything else in life. It is time to grow up and take responsibility for our weight, our health, our kids, our happiness, our fulfillment, our lives.
That’s what this blog is all about and if you want to learn more about what I am doing to take control of and responsibility for my weight then check this out.
Ok, now why is Acai so great? Acai is chocked full of antioxidants, as much as 10 to 30 times more antioxidants than red wine. It is also rich in Omega fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, and fiber. A super food so to speak. These are all essential to our overall health and suprise, your weight loss as well.
The benefits of all this is better sleep, better digestion, more energy, a more effective immune system and even a better libido. From my experiences, all of this is a true and accurate representations of the benefits.
I used to have a really hard time falling asleep. I did not have insomnia or anything like that but it would take me a good 30 minutes to calm my mind and body down enough to go to sleep. I am not even remotely exaggerating in saying that since I started taking the Acai, I put my head down on the pillow and the next thing I know it is morning. I fall asleep within minutes and sleep soundly and deeply all night long.
My favorite part is the energy. I take my Acai supplements in the afternoon with my multivitamin, because that is when I feel the lowest energy. I then have the energy to get through the rest of the day and even go to the gym. And at the gym, I feel stronger and better able to focus on what I am doing. An the best part is that this is not the jittery energy you get from energy drinks or coffee. You simply have more energy, simple as that.
So if you are looking for a magic diet pill, this isn’t it. But, if you are looking for a great nutritional supplement that gives you immediate and long lasting noticeable results, then Acai might be just the thing for you.
I personally take and highly recommend Perfect Acai
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.
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 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.
- How I Found The Gabriel Method
- Acai Berry Supplements
- The Gabriel Method – After Week 1
- The Gabriel Method – Some Basic Nutrition
- Wilted Salad – Gabriel Method Recipe
- Gabriel Method – After Week 2
- Poached Eggs on Toast – Gabriel Method Breakfast
- The Gabriel Method – End of Month 1
- Gabriel Method Forum
- A New Day
- The Gabriel Method – Week 6
- Dealing With Emotional Weight Issues
- The Gabriel Method – I Love My Body
- The Gabriel Method – Divine Love
- The Gabriel Method – I Love Salad
- The Gabriel Method – End of Month 2
- Big Salad – Gabriel Method Recipe
- Shrimp and Spinach Salad w/ Cider Vinaigrette – Recipe
- The Gabriel Method – The Strangest Things
- The Gabriel Method – July Results – Photos
- My nuu-muu Fits!
- Transformations
- Where The Hell Have Your Been?
- I Finally Made the Mental Shift
- Extreme Fat Loss and The Diet Solution
How I Found The Gabriel Method
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:45 GMT. 2 comments. Top.
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.
Acai Berry Supplements
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:44 GMT. 3 comments. Top.
I have been taking an Acai supplement for about 6 months now and I will tout its benefits all over town, but let’s get one thing perfectly clear…
This is not a diet drug. If you believe that crap about losing 40 pounds by just taking a pill then you are an idiot, just like I was.
So, Why is Acai so great?
The Gabriel Method – After Week 1
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:44 GMT. 1 comment. Top.
After just more than one week on the month one plan plus adding the recommended foods where appropriate, I am already seeing my cravings change. Less Diet Coke, more water and the other day we took the kids to ice cream in the afternoon and I didn’t even feel like having something sweet. I more wanted some cheese and bread, maybe some olives. Now, I did have the ice cream and it’s not like cheese and bread is so great for you, but that change in craving is a big one for me. I have always wanted something sweet.
Now, a few days later, I don’t really want to eat the breads at all. Last night we had garlic shrimp and pasta and I couldn’t even bring myself to eat the very small amount of pasta I put on my plate and today I took the kids to lunch and nothing really sounded good and I ended up tearing most of the bread off my meal and eating out just the center.
The Gabriel Method – Some Basic Nutrition
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:44 GMT. 5 comments. Top.
One of the first things The Gabriel Method encourages is eating a large breakfast to get your day going. Like all other meals using this approach, breakfast should include a good source of protein, omega 3 and live foods. You should also take a digestive enzyme capsule before eating to help with digestion.
So, let’s break these down a little.
Wilted Salad – Gabriel Method Recipe
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:44 GMT. 1 comment. Top.
I have been exploring new foods and ways of eating as part of the Gabriel Method.
This salad has become my favorite lunch. It is hearty and filling, dare I say comforting, and chock full of nutrition.
Gabriel Method – After Week 2
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:44 GMT. 2 comments. Top.
I really really want to weigh myself. I can’t help it, the scale just calls to me. I have put it away, but just because it is put away doesn’t mean I can’t go and dig it out. It is only the thought that I may get on the scale and that same number will still be there that is keeping me from it.
Poached Eggs on Toast – Gabriel Method Breakfast
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:43 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
When I was little my mom used to make me poached eggs when I had an upset stomach. It has become of form of comfort food for me.
The problem is that poaching eggs in water is messy and kinda smelly and a good portion of the egg white is lost to the spinning web of egg white strings (yuck). Yet, poached eggs are still my favorite way to eat eggs and when I started The Gabriel Method and knew I was going to need to eat more eggs, making poached eggs easy was a must.
The Gabriel Method – End of Month 1
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:43 GMT. 6 comments. Top.
Let’s get real here. I feel weak. I doubt my ability to do this and I am self sabotaging like you would not believe. Yet one more thing that terrifies me. I am so tired of being afraid. I don’t even know what I am so damn scared of. I just walk around wallowing in my own fear.
Gabriel Method Forum
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:21 GMT. 3 comments. Top.
So after that particularly negative and self loathing post about my progress, I went looking for a support forum.
A New Day
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:21 GMT. 4 comments. Top.
It’s a funny thing about fear. Sometimes when you say it out loud and face it directly it recedes and sometimes even dissapears all together.
I would like to thank everyone for the unexpected and very much appreciated outpouring of support. Your words of encouragement made a really bad day a whole lot better and gave me the confidence to push past it. Thank-you.
I wish I could say my fear is gone forever, but alas that simply isn’t how it is in this case. But, by owning my weaknesses I have come to understand them a little better and can now move forward with my eyes open.
The Gabriel Method – Week 6
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:20 GMT. 4 comments. Top.
After over a week of rededicating myself to The Gabriel Method, I am feeling better and better about it.
Dealing With Emotional Weight Issues
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:20 GMT. 4 comments. Top.
After the events of the past week I have come to determine that my frustration over my lack of measurable progress (a.k.a. weight loss) really comes down to the fact that I am jumping the gun. As long as I have all this emotional baggage the weight will not come off, no matter what I do.
The Gabriel Method – I Love My Body
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:20 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Every year (for the past 15) over the Memorial Day weekend, a large group of friends from college go camping (if you can really call it that) at Banks Lake in eastern Washington. This year we had the best weather ever, 80s and sunny and perfect every day. It has never been better.
The problem with this was that I knew it was coming. Karli is kinda weather obsessed so we were watching the weather starting like 2 weeks before hand. Now how could knowing we were going to have beautiful weather the whole weekend be bad? It meant I needed to buy a bathing suit.
The Gabriel Method – Divine Love
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:20 GMT. 2 comments. Top.
Over this last week I have been noticing some subtle, yet important, changes in the way I feel. Because the emotional and self perception issues are so huge for me, I have vowed not to weigh myself or even measure myself until October. I am letting go of numbered results and concentrating on how I feel and healing myself.
The Gabriel Method – I Love Salad
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:20 GMT. 1 comment. Top.
I love salad. I think one reason that this eating plan works so well for me is that I love salad. I eat at least one, if not two, large salads a day. I’m lucky that my husband loves salad too.
I have been experimenting with different toppings and styles of salad, but for most meals it is pretty much the same.
The Gabriel Method – End of Month 2
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:20 GMT. 4 comments. Top.
I picked up my Gabriel Method book this morning to reread some of the nutritional stuff as I have been concentrating on my mental health and identifying and eradicating my emotional blockage. I was looking through the monthly plans and nutritional information and realized that I am already doing everything in month 3, just naturally without thinking about it. How cool is that?
Big Salad – Gabriel Method Recipe
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:23:19 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I think I mentioned in my I love Salad post that my husband and I have been really enjoying what we call the “Big Salad”. We have this for dinner once a week now and giggle about past Seinfeld episodes (did you catch the reference?).
I find it funny that without even trying to convince him, my husband is fully on board with whatever I put in front of him these days. This one is a big hit though, so I thought I would share.
Shrimp and Spinach Salad w/ Cider Vinaigrette – Recipe
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:22:39 GMT. 2 comments. Top.
I have really been enjoying my new world of salads. Although most of the time I stick to the basics, I have found some really great more creative offerings as well. Nothing boring about this little number.
The Gabriel Method – The Strangest Things
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:22:38 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
This process never ceases to amaze me. The weirdest stuff is happening to me. I squarely chalk this up to the fact that I must have had some serious stuff built up in my system as well as a significant amount of emotional blockage.
The Gabriel Method – July Results – Photos
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:22:38 GMT. 6 comments. Top.
Well, nothing earth shattering here but I thought it might be time that I post some photos. This is really hard for me, putting myself out there for the world to look at, but what the hey — here we go.
My nuu-muu Fits!
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:22:38 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
So, the story goes, it was laundry day and 106 degrees out and I needed something to throw on so I could wash my very limited supply of clothing appropriate for such a heat wave. I look up and there it is, hanging in my closet, just where it has been since the day it arrived. What the hey? and I put it on…
Transformations
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:22:37 GMT. 2 comments. Top.
I know that I have mentioned this maybe even several times in the past, but I just can’t get over how powerful it is when the same information comes at me from several unrelated sources. This always confirms for me that I am on the right track. Lately this phenomena is happening everywhere I look and so gives me confidence that although I sometimes feel like I am dangling from a hook, struggling to find solid ground as life zooms past me, everything is happening as it should and it helps me to trust myself and allow myself to be present to the changes happening in my life.
Where The Hell Have Your Been?
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:21:23 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
After several people have left very nice comments, but are also wondering what has happened to me and why I haven’t written anything in a while, I decided it is time for an update.
I Finally Made the Mental Shift
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:21:23 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Extreme Fat Loss and The Diet Solution
Last modified on 2012-03-26 21:21:23 GMT. 2 comments. Top.
I believe that these two programs combined are a powerful match and will produce amazing results for me and you as well.
Here are both the Products for you to take a look at.
Joel is still offering $30 off during the pre-sale, but this will end in the next day or so.
This is an audio/video presentation so make sure you have your speakers on :)