Keeper of The Keys

I recently taught a class, "Life Principles." My class was inspired by life principles that have helped me during times of great change in my life. My last week was titled, "You are what you think." I found this poem that I shared at my class. I thought it would be good to post.

"Keeper of the Keys"

You are the Keeper of The Keys.
You are the Guard at The Gate.
Waiting in line to get through that door
Is LOVE and also HATE.
In line to enter is GENTLE PEACE.
And also VIOLENT WAR.
You must choose who may, and who
May not come through the door.
INTOLERANCE tries to sneak on through
On wings of FEAR, or PRIDE.
It hides behind DREAMS of BELONGING,
And tries to sneak inside.
Oh! Be alert! You're the Guard who decides
Who GOES and who may STAY.
You are The Keeper of The Keys to Your Mind.
Who will you let in today?

Guy Gilchrist

As I think about the change that our country is experiencing and the personal ways that we are all being challenged, I encourage you to be the "Keeper of the Keys" to your mind. Choose to think rightly and guard your thoughts. Who will you let in today?

Always encouraging you,

Letha

Is it what you're eating...or what's eating you?

This week I talked to a lot of clients about how to stabilize and then maintain weight loss for life. Although I have gained tremendous knowledge about food, calories and nutrition over the past 29 years working in the weight loss industry, you'll rarely find me talking about those things in this blog. The amount of information available to the public about dieting is overwhelming and plentiful. If you have a question about food, calories or protein...you can get that question answered 100 different ways.

My experience has taught me this...it's a lot more about what's eating you...than what you're eating! As I sit with clients every week, I'm continually reminded of that.

Today I visited with clients who seem to be "bored with the food" on the Healthy Weigh weight loss diet, but with further examination discovered that discontentment was at the root of "needing" more or different food.

Being content isn't easy. If you've studied contentment at all you find it gets harder before it gets better. Contentment is being satisfied with what you have and where you are; a feeling of calm satisfaction. The problem with contentment is that we look for the circumstances to change, when being content is really learning to be satisfied with things just like they are.

The rub comes when we feel those feelings of discontentment and we don't know what to do with them. Food so often becomes the drug of choice to numb, avoid, or escape that uncomfortable feeling of discontentment.

The answer is ALWAYS to identify those feelings and then process them. That might look like journaling, talking to a friend or choosing gratitude for what you have and where you are right now.

Choose contentment this weekend. Challenge yourself to process feelings of discontent and be grateful. See if finding contentment in your present circumstances doesn't just make following your diet a little easier.


Always encouraging you.
Letha

Happy New Year!

We're hours away from a new year! That means it's time to dream, plan, and set goals. I hope you've been thinking about the year 2011 and what you want it to look like. I've talked to some clients who have chosen a word for the year, already set some goals, and are really feeling ready to accomplish great things this year.

I've talked to other clients who haven't given much thought to any of that. From experience, I can tell you that the clients who are setting goals and dreaming dreams for this year, will have a year of accomplishments. They will succeed at reaching their goals no matter what the weather. Those without a lot of thought about the year will tend to blow around like the wind, and go wherever the weather takes them, not accomplishing much and feeling discouraged as the year goes on.

Set some goals this year... regarding your weight loss program and much more. Take some time in these first weeks of January and put some dates on the calendar! That's when the magic happens...when you get things down on paper!

We've got great plans this month at The Healthy Weigh as we kick off our winter Team Challenge. We look forward to supporting you this new year of 2011. We will provide you with the best weight loss program available and then celebrate your success.

Here's to a year filled with peace! Here's to a year of health; body, soul and spirit!

Always encouraging you, Letha

Merry Christmas!

As I sit this Christmas Eve morning and look out on the beautify of this day, I am reflecting. These days at home have given me an opportunity to reflect on this past year. 2010 has been a year full of joy and sorrow.

There were so many joys to celebrate...
I celebrated with you, my Healthy Weigh friends, when you married off your children, when you became Grandparents, and even when you had new children of your own. I celebrated with you as you sent your little ones to school, and when you sent your bigger ones to college! I celebrated with you as you lost weight and changed on the outside and celebrated when you changed in even bigger ways on the inside.

There were times of great sorrow this year too.
I suffered with you, my Healthy Weigh friends, when you watched your parents pass away, when you had surgery and illness, and when you struggled to stay positive during hard economic times. I prayed for you when I watched you have concerns for your children and grandchildren. I had empathy when you struggled with this very difficult journey of losing weight for life.

As I reflect back, I am blessed to say that I have had the amazing opportunity to walk beside you in good times and in bad. I thank you on this Christmas Eve, for the opportunity to do so.

For those of you who are celebrating with joy this day, I celebrate with you...for those of you who carry deep sorrow today, I say a prayer for you, that the peace of God would guard your hearts and your minds this Christmas.

Merry Christmas friends,

Always encouraging you.
Letha

Exciting Times at The Healthy Weigh

It is with great enthusiasm and celebration that I look back on 2010 at the success of the clients at The Healthy Weigh. Over 6000 pounds were lost this year as clients changed their thinking and changed their lives. I was thrilled to watch clients reach weight loss goals and more excited to hear their stories of permanent change. With my years of experience helping men and women lose weight, I don't celebrate weight loss as much as I do change!

It is with equal enthusiasm that I announce change at The Healthy Weigh. I have never quit looking for the best way to help people live their best lives. This year we experienced that more than in all my 29 years in the weight loss business. The Team Challenge brought about more weight loss and more emotional healing than I have ever seen. The class room teaching by Glenda, Nancy and me were, I believe, some of the most important and sound teaching regarding weight loss and emotional healing available in Clark County.

For that reason, we announced Thursday that we will be phasing out the one-on-one clinic side of The Healthy Weigh program. We will be putting all our energies, focus and finances into the Team Challenge and the classroom side of the program, the part of the program where we see the most permanent change happening.

As I look back on my last 4 years being fully engaged at The Healthy Weigh, I see that all the steps I've taken have lead me right here. Developing the workshop series that lead to group participation and the CD series, opened up a new door, emotionally and physically at The Healthy Weigh. Opening this door brought about group support and community involvement that I could not have anticipated. Accountability and support are needed for growth and change. The Team Challenge and the class room events provided an abundance of both.

If you are serious about permanent weight loss and want to change from the inside out...you need not look any further. The Healthy Weigh will provide you that opportunity in 2011! We are thrilled to be starting our 7th season of the Team Challenge January 11th. Glenda and I are also excited about some up coming conferences and classes. Glenda's amazing "Back Pack" class will be taught as a Friday night, all day Saturday conference January 21st and 22nd and Glenda and I will be team teaching a two hour class on Thursday, February 24th "Changing Your Beliefs." Both of these classes can be and will be life changing for those who participate!

It is with great anticipation that I look into 2011. I hope you'll join me on this journey to heal and change both physically and emotionally this year. It's going to be an amazing 2011!

Call me or email me at letha@healthyweigh.com to get more details about the upcoming Team Challenge! You'll be glad you did!

Always encouraging you.
Letha

It's a Wonderful Life!

George Bailey, the richest man in town...don't you just love that movie? I watched it with my family this weekend and was struck by one of the lines. Clarence was looking down on George and asked the question..."Is he sick?" and Joseph answered back, "No, worse...he's discouraged."

Discouragement can ruin a life. It can keep you from being who you were intended to be. It can definitely keep you from seeing who you are!

Discouragement comes...it comes to all of us. It is the deprivation of courage and confidence.

At The Healthy Weigh, we encourage! We help point you in the right direction. We believe in the power of thoughts and words and use those to impart courage and confidence!

If you're feeling a little like George Bailey these days...discouraged and focusing on your failures, step into The Healthy Weigh and let us remind you that you truly do have a wonderful life and you have all that you need to be successful!

We've got GREAT plans for you in the next 4 weeks before our next Team Challenge begins January 11th! I hope you'll join us for a little "Christmas Vacation" at noon or 6 PM on Tuesday. This week Nancy is unwrapping some of her very best holiday ideas for you. You'll leave encouraged for sure!

Always encouraging you,
Letha

Walk & Knock for the Hungry

This morning I'm filling up my brown paper bag with items to feed the hungry. I'm always a little bit convicted as I fill my Walk & Knock bag each year with food I'll never miss.

I can't help but think about hunger, and question my self as to whether or not I've ever been hungry.

I sit with clients every day who are afraid that they'll be hungry if they eat 3 servings of protein, 4 servings of vegetables, 3 servings of fruit, 2 servings of starch and 2 servings of milk...every day.

Hunger, is defined as; a discomfort caused by a need for food. I guess the next question I'd have to ask my self is what is a need. Is my need for food related to physical hunger or something else?

My words will be few this morning. I'm on my way to drop off this bag of food. I encourage you to do the same this weekend.

Visit www.walkandknock.org for more information.

Always encouraging you,
Letha