I would like to share with you a very powerful but somewhat spooky technique that might help you in your weight loss journey. I warn you now that it's hard hitting. I got the main idea from a book I read a book a few years back, that was written in the early part of this century. I forget the title and author name, or would give it credit here.

Let me get right to the point of the technique I'm speaking about. Wherever you currently are, imagine yourself lifting out of your body, and walking across the room. Now you are at the other side of the room looking directly at yourself as you are reading this page. What do you see? For me personally as I write this, right now I see myself buried in the computer with papers everywhere, and a generally messy room. Right now, my whole computer room looks like a mess.

I am also hunched over with poor posture. As I look at myself and think about what I see, I straighten out in my chair and wonder how I could ever let this room get into such a state of disarray. I will get this place cleaned up. I would not want to invite a friend here until I did. Just like my wife always cleans up the house before people come over. But until I just wrote this, I did not realize how bad things got in this room.

Isn't funny how we always act differently when someone else is watching us? This technique gets you to watch yourself when nobody else is around. Really think about what you see when you look at yourself. Who are you? What are you? What do people think when they see you? What do you think when you look at yourself?

Imagine yourself looking at yourself in the following situations. Looking at yourself very cirtically, like many people look at other people. Even worse, imagine yourself videotaping yourself in these situations:

• Screaming at your kids over some insignificant thing because you had a stressful day.

• Gossiping about another person.

• Living in a messy house or apartment.

• Getting loud in public after having a few too many drinks

• Chewing your fingernails.

• Arguing loudly or fighting with someone.

• Spending hours watching television, the whole family transed out in a world of garbage.

• And of, course WATCHING YOURSELF EAT.

• Watching yourself eat when you are not really hungry.

• Watching yourself eat when you are already overweight. LOOK at yourself sitting there eating.

• Watching yourself eating the wrong foods.

• Watching yourself shopping in the grocery store.

• Watching yourself cheating on your diet, maybe when nobody is around.

• Watching yourself pilfering the cabinets looking for something to eat, when you are trying to diet.

• Watching yourself cooking a big greasy dinner. Watching yourself gorge down every last bite of that big dinner.

• Watching yourself sneaking around the candy machine at work.

• Watching yourself walking into a restaurant to feast when you are dieting. What do you think those skinny people think when someone overweight goes to a restaurant?

• Watching yourself sitting around the house most of the day instead of getting up and moving around.

  OR BETTER YET......

  Watching yourself controlling yourself, as you eat the right foods and increase your general activity level.

  Watching yourself stop eating when you are nearly full, and being proud of yourself for doing it.

  Watching the inches slowly but consistently come off, as your body takes on a new form.

  Watching yourself being patient during months of dieting, because you know how important it is to your health. Being impressed with and proud of yourself for sticking to the program, and showing everyone you CAN do it!! That person you are looking at is truly modeling the way for others also trying to reach their goal. Very Admirable.

  I think you probably get the idea. When I remember to use this technique, I have found it to be the most powerful technique to changing my behavior. The best things it has done for me is to keep me on a diet and control my temper, especially with the kids. It's not easy, it takes concentration. If you practice it constantly for the next 48 hours, your life may never be the same.

  Now, go back and "watch" that videotape I mentioned earlier. Rewind it. Play it back. What are you doing? What do you see? I hope it is something you are proud of.

  

  Comments? Other things we should watch? Please e-mail Donn at donn@shapeup.net
  

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