Secret to weight loss = Job Loss!

Lose a job lose a pound. In my case the 20 pounds I have been looking to lose. I'm not sure though whether to celebrate or sulk.

In retrospect, I believe my difficulty in losing weight may have been because of the constant stress I was under at my last job.

The hormone Cortisol as been linked to weight gain. According to a posting in About.com chronic stress and cortisol can contribute to weight gain in the following ways:

Metabolism -- Do you feel like you're prone to putting on more weight when you're stressed, even if you're eating the same amount of food as you always have? Too much cortisol can slow your metabolism, causing more weight gain than you would normally experience. This also makes dieting more difficult.

Cravings -- People experiencing chronic stress tend to crave more fatty, salty and sugary foods. This includes sweets, processed food and other things that aren’t as good for you. These foods are typically less healthy and lead to increased weight gain.

Blood Sugar -- Prolonged stress can alter your blood sugar levels, causing mood swings, fatigue, and conditions like hyperglycemia. Too much stress has even been linked to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health concerns that can lead to greater health problems, like heart attacks and diabetes.

Even though my dietary habits have not signifcantly changed since I lost my job, I have lost the addtional pounds that were clinging to me like pennant hope to a Cubs fan.

Losing that job may have been the key to getting me over the hump. The lesson? Well, the lesson is work on reducing your job-related stress and maybe the excess pounds will let go before you are.

It begins with feeling worthy

I'm confident that a new attitude toward weight lose will be the winning ticket for me.

A wonderful new year

Funny. It's 1/3/10 and I'm still looking to lose weight. The good news is I have not gained weight. I'm still at the 200 pound mark, so I'm doing something right by not gradually increasing my weight. The other good news is that I can start again at any time. So, here I go again. Round....?

New Year - Same Plan

Never give up. Never give in. It's almost the new year, but the goal remains the same. Losing 20 pounds in a ten week period. With the new years, comes new motivation and an exciting resetting of the clock.

Limping Along

Down again, up again. I have the equivalent of sticky notes for body fat.

Joining a Gym

Well, everything I lost, I gained back. Time to try something other than going the diet approach alone. Need to gain some muscle to stoke the metabolism. I can almost feel the flab attaching itself to me as I sit and think about losing weight.

Stay tuned...

Over Achievement

I use to believe that if I work hard and produce, I will be rewarded with continued employment, rising levels of responsibility. increased compensation... I’ve come to learn it’s not a solid approach to a successful outcome. Is a healthy lifestyle created through hard work, or something else? Can I achieve without having to over-achieve?

Enter the book Overachievement. I found this little gem on the shelf of a local Half Price Bookstore. I was intrigued by the title. It so fit me. I was also drawn to a section of the book that exclaimed: “goal-setting, relaxation, visualization, stress management, and going with the flow just don’t work.” That WAS so me.

According to John Eliot (author), it has more to do with having a dream and pursuing the dream without being tied to the achievement of goals. Success is more a factor of focused preparation than a focus on goals. A focus on goals gets you a good feeling about getting somewhere, without really ever getting you anywhere. Have a plan, but focus on the dream, not on the goals.

John also writes about using the body’s natural mechanisms (flight or fight, for example) to work for you, rather then trying to relax them away. The secret is repetition. Whatever you do, do it well. Many, many times. That way when things don’t go your way during a presentation or a performance, you can still preform at an exceptional level without the need for deep breaths. Time spent honing your craft will produce the results. No need to will or command your body to do anything out of the natural.

Bottom line. It’s not about the work, it’s about the preparation and loving the pressure of the performance.

BTW - did I mention that I lost another 1/2 pound. At this rate I'll be at my goal weight in two weeks! Too funny. I feel a cookie crave coming on.