Shift Monthly: WHAT NOT TO DO--How I Gained Weight Trying to Lose Weight

Learn about Sugar Free, Dairy Free, Gluten Free cooking with Chef Varouj
RECORDING: www.shiftweightmastery.com/glutenfreecookingwithchefV.mp3

Free gluten free-recipe series at:

www.culinarycreator.com


March 2014 Shift Monthly Shift Monthly is a monthly coaching session written by clinical hypnotherapist and cognitive weight expert Rita Black dedicated to exploring how to implement “thin thinking” in order to achieve long term permanent Weight Mastery. Each month we focus on a different theme of Weight Mastery. www.shiftweightmastery.com  
Theme: Melting Negative Self Talk from the Inner Critic

The next Shift Weight Mastery Process All-Day Seminar is April 26th

WHAT NOT TO DO--HOW I GAINED WEIGHT TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT

This week I would like to offer you some cautionary coaching about Fat Thinking and how to recognize and avoid it in order to SHIFT into Thin Thinking in order to stay focused on the behaviors and beliefs that allow you to continue to release weight. Fat Thinking literally drove my 42 pound weight gain one summer!! 


DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME When I arrived home to Seattle for the summer from my freshman year at New York University, I was excited; I was back home, I had three months of no school, I had a great job lined up, my brother was getting married and I was making his wedding cake!  Fun times were ahead!!


I would also like to mention I was thin-ish.  That’s right thin-ish.  After gaining weight over Christmas break when I was home, I had diligently lost most all of the weight I gained (about 25 pounds) over the spring term by eating very little and exercising a lot.  I was almost at a weight that satisfied me—but not quite.  I wanted to take off another 10 in the first couple of weeks of the summer so that I could be bikini ready (well Seattle’s version of it) –I still felt like I was not presentable at this weight—I was not SUMMER THIN RITA.  So even though I was thin-ish, my Fat Thinking was already beginning.

My first obstacle to the SUMMER THIN RITA was my mom and her kitchen that, unlike my austere starving student dorm room, was stocked with every food imaginable.  She wanted to mother her prodigal daughter and so made my favorites for the first few nights I was home.  I tried to “be good” and eat just the little salad on my plate but the aroma of the “real food” was too much.  I ate and immediately felt bad which sent me into the “screw it, I already blew it for the weekend I will start again on Monday” Inner Rebel Driven “Nothing” mode.  Not only did I eat seconds and thirds of my mom’s amazing cooking but I also raided all the cupboards giving myself permission to eat all that I had missed while I was starving in NYC until Monday when I would go back to starving myself.

I got on the scale Monday—yikes—up 3 pounds!!  “Okay back in “ALL” MODE.  I will come home from work and exercise for an hour and a half and eat a salad and get back on track!!!”  My Inner Critic screamed at me.  For a few days I was diligent, but then I had to start testing the cake that I was making for my brother’s wedding.  One bite of cake led to more bites which lead to frosting and the I BLEW IT—"NOTHING" MODE—it was Wednesday and NOTHING lasted until the cake testing ended—Sunday!!  Up another few pounds on Monday!

I started work that week at an Italian Deli at Pike’s Place Market.  I had worked at an Italian Deli in NYC as a cashier and never really had to handle to food.  I was happy as I headed off to work, to have some structure, and not be tempted by my mom’s kitchen all day long.  My new plan to lose the now 8 pounds I had gained was to drink coffee in the morning and nothing else all day long,  come home and exercise and eat a salad for dinner—no dressing.  Easy!  "ALL" THINKING BACK IN ACTION

When I got to my new job, I found out that I was in charge of the bakery section and that I would be doling out the amazing muffins, scones and Italian bread and pastries.  All of a sudden my day job turned into a stimulus control nightmare gone wrong—I was handling carbohydrates all day long.  Instead of eating nothing I said to myself—“well, I will try everything once and then be done with it—no more I swear no more after today!”  "NOTHING" MODE fueled by amazing Italian carbohydrates!

I found myself switching back and forth, back and forth from ALL or NOTHING mode faster than you could say “Fat Thinking”.  I was now up 10 pounds, becoming miserable, and more and more desperate.  My brother’s wedding was in a month and I wanted to lose 20 pounds for the dress I had bought and I still had to bake and frost a wedding cake for 120 guests!  I would start an all fruit diet in the morning and be gorging on frosting by the night.  Instead of being down in weight, every week I was going up.  All the reasons I had been excited for the summer—the wedding, being away from school and being home, making the wedding cake, were all turning against me.  Most of all I was turning against myself.  I hated myself for lacking willpower and not being able to follow through on my plans for SUMMER THIN RITA.  SUMMER THIN RITA was up 20 pounds by the time my brother said, “I do”—and SUMMER FAT RITA was saying, “I do” to all the fattening foods on offer at the wedding.

Of course once the wedding was over I had now a new goal—AUTUMN THIN RITA!!!  Since being thin for the summer was a wash--I had to get back in shape before I flew back to NYC in September.  The Monday after the wedding my hopes were high for releasing 20 lbs in the remaining 5 weeks—that was doable right?? The “ALL” THINKING EXTRAVAGANZA was quickly and habitually followed by the or “NOTHING” THINKING FESTIVAL.

Every week there was a new hope and extreme goal and “ALL” THINKING plan for regimented austerity eating: the banana diet, the turkey only diet, the water and lemon diet, the 300 calorie a day diet.  Every week there was the moment of reaching for a food that was not on my plan followed by the “I blew it” NOTHING PLAN where I would eat anything and everything including frozen leftover wedding cake—that had not been thawed!!!

By the end of the summer I headed back to NYC up the scale 42 pounds and absolutely devastated with myself.  How could I be such a failure?  How humiliating to have to face my friends again 40 pounds up after having left them 3 months ago 42 pounds thinner?

This is where Fat Thinking can take us.  Fat thinking not only robs us of our potential to be healthy, but more importantly, it takes our true inner power away.  When we get stuck in the habit of “All or Nothing” thinking ,it is impossible to find a true solution to our weight struggle.  We live life in two gears—1: Chicken and Broccoli or 2: Pizza and Ice Cream.  There is no middle ground.  There is no opportunity to truly honor ourselves and our real needs. 

How do we escape this prison of our Fat Thinking???  That “summer of 42” was 28 summers ago and it took me another 10 years of Fat Thinking yo-yoing to finally hit the wall and say enough!!!  I am tired of this head I live in—I need out!  I finally realized that the problem wasn’t with me not being able to be perfect on a diet—the problem was the “being perfect” and “the diet”—I was okay.  I just needed to focus on thinking differently and to really learn to show up for myself and nourish myself within the energy needs of my body.  I had to Shift the heck out of this Fat Thinking prison and Shift into the wide open freedom of possibility that Thin Thinking was.  That realization was when I made my Shift and took the weight off and have kept it off ever since.

THIN THINKING INSTEAD

Thin Thinking occurs when we engage our Inner Coach.  Unlike the Critic and Rebel our Inner Coach has the ability to keep our thinking focused on solving problems, meeting challenges and creating systems and strategies that work for us over time.

Here are some ways to stay in Thin Thinking with your Inner Coach—think S.P.O.R.T.

Specific: Create a specific vision of where you would like to be by the end of the summer—it is very important that this vision feels real and do-able—not anxiety provoking and unattainable.


Positive: Keep all things that happen this summer to you in positive terms.  Meaning that even if you stray from your goals—find the learning opportunity in what has happened figure out how to SHIFT things next time—so that you are always moving forward and not “starting over Monday” no matter what you do.

Observable: Remember—as a Shifter you are a loving scientist—observe yourself and your behaviors.  Collect data (track your weight and food), keep things in reality—this is a huge factor in many master’s success. Bring a notebook with you and track those vacation calories—or use the Lose It app on your phone.

Realistic: Remember to keep your expectations of what you can achieve realistic.  We can’t lose 20 pounds in a week!  Or even a month!  You will know when your expectations are in a good place when you feel good and not stressed!  Keep your goals with weight release do-able and definable.

Time: Give yourself the right amount of time to achieve your goals and give yourself time to make yourself a priority.  Make sure you carve out time for self care, meal planning and exercise!

Have a great March!!!
oxox Rita

Shift Monthly: Twenty Years a Slave...to Sugar

February 2014 Shift Monthly Shift Monthly is a monthly coaching session written by clinical hypnotherapist and cognitive weight expert Rita Black dedicated to exploring how to implement “thin thinking” in order to achieve long term permanent Weight Mastery. Each month we focus on a different theme of Weight Mastery.www.shiftweightmastery.com  

Theme: A Deeper Dive into Breaking Free from the Sugar Struggle! (Coaching session below)

Valentine’s Special –2 Sugar related hypnosis downloadable Mp3 sessions session discounted to ONLY $12 each—this week only.

-“Just One Bite or None at All—Shifting Your Relationship to Chocolates and Sweets” This coaching and hypnosis session discusses how to Shift your relationship with chocolates and sweets so that you can create a more moderate relationship with them.


-“Mastering Your Relationship with Sugar” This powerful hypnosis session creates an aversion to sugary and carby foods.

CLICK HERE FOR LINK 

TO GET THE DISCOUNT—Enter the word LOVE12 into the coupon code box at check out (all caps). 


 Twenty Years a Slave… to Sugar
How do we combat our physical, mental and emotional relationship to this sweet drug of choice?


Dear Shifters--Happy Valentine’s Day!  Having been a slave to sugar for the first few decades of my life, it does seem odd to me that during Valentine’s Day, the “Holiday of Love” we are supposed to give our loved ones sugary treats.  If the holiday makers of the world could see how much pain and misery the excessive sugary splurges of this season d’amour cause people who are stuck in the weight struggle—they might pause and re-think their strategy. 

Until that fine day my friends, what we can do is take back our power by creating our own sugar strategy—which can be our own big heart, ribbon tied present to ourselves this week.  After being a slave to the sugar master for 20 years and then making my own SHIFT and creating a new powerful relationship with sugar and now coaching my clients to do the same I would like to share what I know with you as my personal Valentine gift.

MY AFFAIR WITH SUGAR STARTED EARLY
As a kid my mom would pour me a bowl of cereal and I would pour sugar on it—a big pile of sugar.  After watching the mound of sugar sink below the surface of the milk to the bottom of the bowl and then I would proceed to bypass the cereal and just scrape the spoonfuls of sugar drenched in milk from the bottom and eat them, leaving the ceral to go soggy and limp in the bowl.  Then I would repeat the same sugary cycle over and over loving the taste and also the buzzy way it made my head feel.  Yippeeeeee.  That was breakfast.  If you used to do this too—raise your hand.

MY ADDICTION QUICKLY LED TO CRIME
I was caught for shop lifting at the tender age of 5.  I only was given a nickel to spend on penny candy at the corner store.  A nickel’s worth of candy—that’s not enough!  Are my parents kidding?  When the storekeeper wasn’t looking I shoved my pockets full of candy and brazenly went to the register with my brother who had walked to the store with me.  I put five pieces of candy down and gave him the nickel.  He looked at me and my brimming pockets and shook his head.  He pointed to put the candy back. “I will close my eyes and count to ten” he said sternly,”and I want all that extra candy back or I will tell your mother!”  I sadly complied.  He told my mother anyway.  Damn, I should have just kept the candy.

I WAS SUGAR’S SLAVE
When I was stuck in my love/hate relationship with sugar it seemed to me that this struggle filled a lot of my consciousness almost 24 hours a day.  I was either trying hard not to eat it at all or caught up in wild binging sprees that could last for days, weeks even months on end.

I remember my freshman year at NYU.  I had actually lost 15 pounds over my first term—the opposite of the freshman 15!  One of the reasons I actually lost weight was I avoided all sugar.  I was so proud and was sure I had beaten my addiction.

I went home to Seattle for the winter holiday month swearing I would be “sugar free” but soon found myself being tempted by all of holidays goodies in my mother’s house.  One I let go and had just a few bites of my favorite peppermint candy, it was all over.  I could literally feel the sugar dam breaking in my head and the surge of unbridled desire returned.  As I ate through everything –I felt giddy at first but the giddiness soon turned to despair as I literally felt “Master Sugar” laughing and putting the ball and chain shackle over my heart—he got me back.

Every night I went to bed literally bursting at the seams with a belly full of holiday fudge and “treats”.  I gained 25+ in a month—my dorm mates didn’t even recognize me when they opened the door upon my return to college!  It was humiliating and demoralizing but it took me ten more years of struggling as a slave to sugar before I was able to SHIFT my relationship to sugar and free myself of the struggle and slavery.

For you to SHIFT your relationship to sugar you need to understand that your relationship with sugar isn’t about your being “good” or “bad”.  Your relationship with sugar is divided into three sub relationships—your physical, mental and emotional relationships to sugar.

PHYSICALLY: Our relationship with sugar is physical because excessive use can create addictive neural patterns in the brain similar to heroin addiction.  Over time eating too much sugar literally blows out our brains drive for homeostasis and our reward center gets triggered.  That leads to what Dr. David Kessler calls “hypereating”—eating when we aren’t even hungry, eating excessively, because the reward center of our brain just says “More! More! More!” People who struggle with their weight tend to be more sensitive and become “hooked” more easily to sugary foods.

MENTALLY Our relationship with sugar is mental because if we habitually eat certain sugars at certain places and at certain times of the day the brain comes to expect the sugary food and becomes agitated when it doesn’t get it.  We typically call this need to do the same thing at the same time place “habit”. 

When we expect something habitually we become agitated until we get it and when we get it –it creates a sense of relief. Even though it seems like it, the sugar doesn’t create the relief the brain getting what it was agitated for feels relief.

 This sense of relief on an unconscious level tells us that getting this cookie is a good thing.  “See Susie ate the cookie and felt relief—it’s helping her get through her day.  We are going to help Susie by getting her another cookie at the same time tomorrow.” 

So you can see why habits form quickly and die slowly.  You can also see why we feel addicted—we feel agitated like a junkie does when he expects his next fix.  That cookie at 3pm becomes the fix and 3pm is our fix time.

EMOTIONALLY Our relationship with sugar is emotional because from an unconscious level comfort food isn’t the food but what it represents to us symbolically from an unconscious perspective. 

Our unconscious mind speaks to us in symbols more than language and when we are young we become imprinted with our own food symbol language.  For me brownies symbolized nurturing.  I noticed during my own Shift that when I craved brownies and I took the moment to dig deeper—I didn’t really need the brownie I needed nurturing.  Baked sugary goods equaled my mother’s love.

 My mom was a great baker and that was often how she showed her love to me.  “Here honey, have a brownie and it will all be better.”  I wasn’t eating just the brownie.  I was craving everything around the brownie.  The brownie became my portal to the maternal nurturing experience.  Only problem was that the brownie didn’t bring my mom back so I ate another one trying to find the magic—the magic never appeared just the familiar food fog followed by remorse and shame for my out of control emotional brownie binge.

You don’t have to be run by your Sugar Slave Master.  The key is for your Inner Coach to have some key strategies to keep you from getting physically, mentally and emotionally enslaved.

BREAK THE PHYSICAL SLAVERY

1-KNOW AND HONOR YOUR “Sugar CEILING”:  Every “ body” is different and can tolerate a certain level of sugar, starchy or refined carbohydrates before they start feeling “hooked”. It will be your Inner Coach’s project to put on the lab coat and observe what sugars foods and how much of them “set you off” to discover what your set point is and to make sure that you stay under that point on a daily basis. For many this is about 2-3 servings a day.

2-KEEP YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS STABILIZED THROUGH THE DAY WITH HEALTHY PROTEINS AND FATS: Blood sugar stabilization is a huge tool of weight mastery.  Nothing drives false hunger more than eating refined sugars and carbs on an empty stomach.  Try to weave protein and healthy fats throughout your day to keep your hunger at bay and blood sugar peaks and valleys smoothed out.  You won’t believe how much more “in charge” you will feel just by employing this tool on a consistent basis.

-Making sure you are getting about 15-20 grams of protein a meal also helps.  healthy fats like almonds make a good snack—and you don’t need many—maybe 10-20 to really stabilize your hunger levels at that 3pm dip versus a refined carb that will spike your blood sugar and leave you feeling more tired and hungry as you head into the night.

- Starting your day with protein versus carbohydrates has been a key Shift for many people who feel addicted to carbs and sugar.  Having eggs or Greek yogurt or even chicken or veggie protein sausage rather than toast or cold cereal, sometimes for some even oatmeal can cause people to feel hungrier sooner and lead to more “need” for something.

-Think of refined starches and Sugar like cocktails—only to be had after 5pm!  The earlier in the day we eat refined food the earlier we begin wanting more!!!

-AVOID EATING SUGARY FOODS ON AN EMPTY STOMACH: Make a point not to eat your sugar on an empty stomach which adds fuel to the fire and triggers overeating.  Have that treat at the end of a meal or a few hours after dinner as that ”end of day” treat.  Cognitive behavior studies show that people who look forward to that end of the day treat will forgo other sugar earlier if they have that treat to look forward to later.

3-EAT FIBER-- Eat More fiber, whole foods and protein: In order to physically “unhook” addictive eating it will serve you to create a food plan that is low in sugar, salt, fat and refined floury foods and high in fiber, like  fruits and vegetables in addition to the lean protein and healthy fats mentioned above.

BREAK THE MENTAL SLAVERY

Breaking habits around times and places you feel like you eat sugar addictively may take some observation and strategy but it is well worth your conscious effort.  You can begin to break free from old habits that had power over you and start to feel more in charge.  Try this addictive habit breaking technique with your Inner Coach:

1. Pin point the time of day that you are feeling “hooked” and also zero in on the food or types of foods you go after at that point.
2. Be clear the focus isn’t on “not doing the behavior” because that ”trying not”  causes tension in the brain—remember the brain doesn’t process negatives.  The focus is on finding a competing behavior or healthier food option that replaces the old one. 
3. The more clear you remain on you old behavior as “not an Option” and stay focused instead on the new behavior—take a 10 minute nap, read a trashy magazine, eating 10 almonds with a cup of tea, etc… the quicker you will let the old habit go.
4. Find healthier alternatives for those times that you have gotten used to reaching for the more “addictive” sugary foods.

BREAK THE EMOTIONAL SLAVERY

The key with emotional cravings for food is to get super curious about the sugary food you are craving and to try and find what your true need is that is lurking under the craving for food.  get in the habit of giving yourself what you really need instead of what you crave—here is an inner conversation that will help you see how to process on your own.  Believe me this is far more nurturing and satisfying.

 

This is my Inner Coach’s conversation with my Inner Rebel regarding needing a brownie when I feel stressed:

IR: Need brownie now!

IC: We need a brownie?

IR: Yes dark chocolatley rich brownie…with frosting on the top.

IC:  That is going to make us feel better?

IR:  Yes!

IC Really because how do we usually feel after eating a brownie?

IR: Full, gross and not so good. 

IC: What is it you really need?  How are you feeling?

IR: Stressed, very stressed and I feel very alone with all the tasks that I have.

IC:  You feel alone?

IR:  Yes, alone.

IC: Do you need some help?

IR There is no one who can help me.

IC I can help you more than a brownie.  What do you really need to feel better?

IR:  A break.

IC:  Take a break.

IR I can’t.

IC You would have gotten up and went to the deli to buy a brownie—that would have taken 10 minutes.  Why don’t you get up and take a walk to the staff room and make a nice cup of tea and come back and close your eyes more a few minutes that would be about the same time you would have taken to get a brownie.

IR: You’re right.  I was really just needing a break—I won’t give myself an official break but I would go stuff my face with a brownie.  This way I get the break but don’t feel gross afterwards…thanks Inner Coach!

IC: Any time kid!

Getting underneath the impulse to sooth with sugar and getting to the root may take some practice but you can do it—there is really no one who can nurture you as much as you can really nurture yourself.  You can see how your relationship becomes more loving and respectful with yourself when you truly meet your needs and don’t mask them with sugar.

My dear Shifters I hope that this coaching has served you.  Just remember—your biggest Valentine to yourself this week is show up for yourself by staying connected to your Inner Coach.  Don’t give up on yourself—you are worth the fight against sugar slavery!

Have an amazing sugar slavery free Valentine’s Day.  Thank you for being such a wonderful, powerful and freedom seeking, weight mastery community!

oxox Rita

Valentine’s Special –2 Sugar related hypnosis downloadable Mp3 sessions session discounted to ONLY $12 each—this week only.

 “Just One Bite or None at All—Shifting Your Relationship to Chocolates and Sweets” This coaching and hypnosis session discusses how to Shift your relationship with chocolates and sweets so that you can create a more moderate relationship with them.

“Mastering Your Relationship with Sugar” This powerful hypnosis session creates an aversion to sugary and carby foods.

CLICK HERE FOR STORE

TO GET THE DISCOUNT—enter the word LOVE 12 into the coupon code box at check out (all caps).

 

Recording--Avoid Winter Weight Gain with Hungry Girl's Lynn Bettencourt

Happy Monday!
Recording Avoid the Winter Weight Gain Vortex:
www.shiftweightmastery.com/avoidwinterweightgainvortex.mp3


Even though here in the southland winter has seemed world's away this smokin' hot week (meant literally)--we still may be challenged by the winter weight mindset--
-hard to get started on re-focusing after the holidays
-lack of enthusiasm for healthy foods
-biological hibernation drive (eat more--move less).


If you missed our information packed call--please enjoy the teleseminar that Hungry Girl's Lynn Bettencourt and I co-hosted called "Avoid the Winter Weight Gain Vortex".  We walk you through some great life and food strategies to get some fun into your meals these winter month's and to jump-start your enthusiasm to get back to feeling healthy and light before the first buds of spring appear.
www.shiftweightmastery.com/avoidwinterweightgainvortex.mp3


Here is the Hungry Girl site for great recipes and product ideas to jazz up the winter food blah's:
http://www.hungry-girl.com/


Have a great week! oxox Rita Black


This Saturday January 25th Shift Weight Mastery Process is now SOLD OUT.  I look forward to seeing many of you there.  It's going to be a great 30 days!!
www.shiftweightmastery.com

--Avoid the Winter Weight Gain "Vortex" Teleseminar with HG expert Lynn Bettencourt

Only 5 places remain for the upcoming Shift Weight Mastery Process on January 25th--—check out the info on http://shiftweightmastery.com/ShiftSeminar.html or call 323 988 4574
   
Don't get stuck out in the cold. Please join  us! Rita Black and Hungry Girl Food Expert Lynn Bettencourt are hosting a winter weight mastery pow wow teleconfernce!

Come get inspired, educated and motivated
Wednesday January 15th, 2014 at 6:30 pm PST
For a f.ree teleseminar
As we walk you through the
-4 Winter Weight Gain Vortex Traps
AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

As well as fabulous food and motivational strategies
TO LET WINTER BE YOU BEST WEIGHT RELEASE SEASON YET!

To be on this awesome food idea and strategy-filled call please hit reply and say “I’m in!” and you will be sent call in details.

Hope you will be joining us!

Tim C. released 68 pounds between last April’s Shift Weight Mastery Process and September.  He also recently completed a 10 K—a first for him—check out his story. www.shiftweightmastery.com/TimCastagnolaInterview.mp3
Michelle N. gives some powerful insights to what it took to release 58lbs and enjoyed the whole process--the key was changing the relationship with herself.
www.shiftweightmastery.com/MichelleN.mp3
Amy D. has released over 100lbs with the Shift-in-a-Box (it was 88 at the time of the interview) by learning to tune out the voice that kept her struggling and found a powerful voice that kept her SHIFTING even being in the midst of Hurricane Sandy.
www.shiftweightmastery.com/AmyDubeinterview.mp3

Complimentary Shift Hypnosis "Year of Your Dreams" Workshop

Happy New Year!--I hope that you can join me for one of these dynamic workshops with hypnosis that will set the tone for an amazing abundant and healthy new year--this will be complimentary for everyone since it is the first event of the year--take advantage and please forward to family and friends.  Best wishes to you for a "Shifted" 2014. ox Rita Black 

Shift into the Year of Your Dreams
 COMPLIMENTARY “SHIFT into the New Year” LIVE WORKSHOPS

-Is your struggle with weight keeping you from living the full out life of your dreams?

-Do you set “getting healthy” goals only to have them fizzle and fade and give away to old habits and liming beliefs?

-Would you like to finally achieve a more powerful and harmonious relationship with food, exercise, your weight and yourself?

Join us for this lively info-packed workshop where we pull back the curtain on what mental blocks keep us from moving out of old patterns that hold us back from achieving long term weight release and ultimately the full and purpose filled life of our dreams.
 
Sign up for this complimentary “Kick Off” Shift Event for the New Year (family and friends welcome--this will be complimentary for everyone)
http://www.shiftweightmastery.com/sundays2mm.html

During this 90 minute workshop you will:
-Learn how to identify your inner saboteur and get them on your "dream team"

-Get do-able daily practices that insure both your weight and life success

-Experience hypnosis focused blasting out old mental barriers and opening the horizon for a thrilling, healthy and powerful dream year 2014.

TIME AND PLACE OF WORKSHOPS

Valley Workshop—Wednesday 1/8--10am-1130 Sherman Oaks Galleria Community Room
2) Manhattan Beach Workshop Saturday 1/11-- 9:30-11am Manhattan Village Community Room
3) Westside Workshop Sunday 11/12 4-5:30pm Westside Pavilion Community Room A

Sign up for this complimentary “Kick Off” Shift Event for the New Year (family and friends welcome-this will be complimentary for everyone)
http://www.shiftweightmastery.com/sundays2mm.html

The Shift Weight Mastery process uses hypnosis, coaching and cognitive techniques in a focused, groundbreaking process designed to SHIFT you out of the Weight Struggle and into Weight Success.  The next Shift Weight Mastery process is January 25^th.

For more information or to sign up for the free workshop go to www.shiftweightmastery.com or call for a free consult to 323 988 4574

Shift Monthly:Transform Your New Year with these 3 Powerful Visions

January 2014 Shift Monthly Shift Monthly is a monthly coaching session written by clinical hypnotherapist and cognitive weight expert Rita Black dedicated to exploring how to implement “thin thinking” in order to achieve long term permanent Weight Mastery. Each month we focus on a different theme of Weight Mastery.www.shiftweightmastery.com  

Theme: Create a Transcendent 2014 and Step into the Life of Your Dreams! (Coaching session below)

THESE HOLIDAY SPECIALS ARE ENDING THIS WEEK
The Shift Weight Mastery Process is a powerful all day event with hypnosis and a 30 day structured online coaching and support program to SHIFT you Weight Struggle to Weight Success.  Please contact us to set up a time for a free phone consult and to learn more.
DISCOUNTED THROUGH JANUARY 1^ST--The next Shift Weight Mastery Process is January 25th—sign up now for the $100 DISCOUNT before January 1 and $175 discount when you and a friend Shift Together—contact Rita @ritasfl@aol.com 323 988 4574—call to find out more get signed up at the lower price.

FIND OUT MORE: http://shiftweightmastery.com/ShiftSeminar.html

Re-Shift Process--Regroup and Refocus with this 30 day process that includes going though the Shift day intensive on January 25—join before January 1 and receive $50 off the already low price—c’mon you know you want to! Contact Rita @ritasfl@aol.com

3 LEVELS OF VISION TO CREATE A TRANSFORMED NEW YEAR
Happy almost New Year! 

I am excited about today’s coaching because I will share with you 3 different types of visions that you can create a powerful 2014 with below.

FULFILLING MY 2013 VISION I have been spending the holiday week up here in snowy Utah with my husband’s family and enjoying the beauty of the snowy mountains.  Externally all is calm and bright but internally I use this quiet week to turn on my brain with powerful visions for the upcoming year.

This New Year 2014 is a big year for me. I am turning 50 in September, it will be my 25^th wedding anniversary in June, and I will be publishing the Shift Weight Mastery Process book this coming autumn as well—exciting! 

In fact, you are the first people I am telling, aside from my family, that I just completed the first draft of the book while up here for the holidays!  I have a long way to go with re-writes and editing but it has been a year long journey getting the first draft out and fulfilling a vision I began with last January. 

MY VISIONS SHAPE MY LIFE  In order to write this book I trained myself to wake up earlier every morning to spend 60-90 minutes writing before getting my kids up for school and beginning my work day so I am proud of myself but also knew I couldn’t have done it if I hadn’t had a powerful vision of finishing by New Years as well as the deeper more transcendent vision of using the book to help others make powerful SHIFTS our of the mental and physical struggle with their weight and into Weight Mastery.

My vision of using this book to be of service for others helped me push past many mornings when I just wanted to sleep a little longer or was going through tough writing phases where I had to dig deeper or research more or find a more clever way of presenting ideas. “I don’t wanna!” I would whine to myself, and another more powerful voice within would answer back, “Yes, you do. Just get up and get going.”

I am also clear that without a powerful vision of heading into this New Year at the same weight as I was last New Year and feeling good and healthy and vibrant it would be very easy to walk over to the kitchen counter in my in-laws house and help myself to any of the abundance of insane holiday goodies that have been laying around.  Not to say I haven’t been goodie free this holiday but the goodies have their right place in my mind…behind my vision of living a powerful healthy lifestyle free from diet related diseases and the mental struggle with myself.

So are you ready to create some powerful visions with me as we head in to 2014?  I am very clear that you have the ability to create some visions that will make 2014 a year that moves the needle for you towards health and life fulfillment. Let’s get Shifting!

WHY IS HAVING A VISION IMPORTANT FOR CHANGE? As a clinical hypnotherapist I see the power of vision every day with my clients.  We “want” so many things.  But often our “wants” that don’t materialize only exist in our conscious mind, that small more intellectual part of our brain that doesn’t really impact the unconscious mind. 

The unconscious mind drives our behaviors and if you want true and lasting profound SHIFTS in your life you must make these changes unconsciously.  That is why hypnosis can have such a profound impact and allow people to make deep and powerful changes in a few minutes, and that is why I remind my clients—listen to your hypnosis sessions and practice self-hypnosis!  Creating a vision is a form of self hypnosis because you are engaging both the imagination and the emotions, which are part of our subconscious mind.  When you create a vision you are literally turning on 100% of your mind to go to work for you. 

HOW DO I CREATE A VISION? Creating a vision can be easy and fun.  You want to find some time where you can clear your mind and dedicate the time to just focus on your vision.  One you are seated or are laying in a comfortable position you close your eyes and think out into the future to what you want to create.  You want to create an image of seeing you in that picture doing the things you want to be doing, imagine every detail, what you are wearing, what is the expression on your face, who are you with?  Where are you?  What day in the year is it?  Once you have a clear picture step into yourself in the picture and feel how it would feel to be in this situation?  You then want to take that one step deeper and really feel the emotions of how you would feel when your vision was realized and feel as if it was real and true right in that very moment.   

When I was losing weight I imagined what it would feel like to reach my ideal weight and feel free of the struggle.  When I was writing my book this year I literally imagined what it would be like to be sitting it Utah, typing that last few words of the first rough draft—how I would feel proud, relieved and accomplished at the same time…and ready for a glass of champagne!

There are 3 levels of vision and each has its place in our lives.  I do feel that sometimes it’s important with weight goals to have not only a “ideal” weight vision but to have your weight vision then move beyond that vision to a dream vision and then a transformative vision.  I will show you here now so that you can have the most amazing powerful year of your life in 2014.

LEVEL 1: HEALTH/WEIGHT VISION
Create a specific image of what the healthy fit you at your ideal weight will look like.  Be realistic when you create your vision but also spend time imagining how good it will feel, both inside and out.  Use this vision every morning before you roll out of bed or before you go to sleep, these are when our mind is in a hypnotic state anyways.  Remember as you think about the vision to feel the emotions related to the vision, this engages your unconscious mind.

LEVEL 2: DREAM LIFE VISION
Which dreams have you been holding back on going for?  Who do you have to be in order to go for those dreams, what risks do you need to be willing to take?  What would your dream life look like?  We often do not spend any time imagining if we could have our lives any way we want it.

Take some time to create a vision of what your perfect day in your dream life look like…what the SHIFT would need to be?  Keep asking yourself this question--live in the gap--this turns on your unconscious mind as it seeks to solve the problem for you--the mind is like a computer so present it with powerful problems to create the solutions for. 

LEVEL 3: TRANSCENDENT VISION

I believe that we need a vision cast beyond ourselves to engage us past the idea of just being thin or having all the “stuff” we want.  What if your weight mastery moved other people to make healthy changes in their lives?  What if your dream life opened possibility for others as well? 

How can your 2014 vision impact others in your family? In your community?  In the world?  Often it’s this vision that moves us to see our other visions through so do not leave this one out! 

Everyone has the potential to change this world for the better--by believing with 100% certainty you can create change you push your mind past old limiting beliefs and habits that may be stopping you.  I know this was the vision that kept me from rolling over and snoozing more instead of writing my book!

I hope that you enjoy taking the time to create powerful visions for your 2014.
Please come to the upcoming Shift Weight Mastery Process to get engaged in a powerful, healthy shifted 2014! (see below)

Happy New Year!
Rita Black
THESE HOLIDAY SPECIALS ARE ENDING
The Shift Weight Mastery Process is a powerful all day event with hypnosis and a 30 day structured online coaching and support program to SHIFT you Weight Struggle to Weight Success.
DISCOUNTED THROUGH JANUARY 1^ST--The next Shift Weight Mastery Process is January 25th—sign up now for the $100 DISCOUNT before January 1 and $175 discount when you and a friend Shift Together—contact Rita @ritasfl@aol.com 323 988 4574—call to find out more get signed up at the lower price.

FIND OUT MORE: http://shiftweightmastery.com/ShiftSeminar.html

Re-Shift Process--Regroup and Refocus with this 30 day process that includes going though the Shift day intensive on January 25—join before January 1 and receive $50 off the already low price—c’mon you know you want to! Contact Rita @ritasfl@aol.com   

Shift Weight Mastery: 3 Wise Shift Gifts--Happy Holidays

Dear Shift Community,

I want to wish all of you, your families and friends a very happy and peace-filled holiday.  I want to thank you for being a part of our hypnosis based-weight mastery support community.

I come bearing gifts—not for under the tree but to engage your mind powerfully for as a clinical hypnotherapist and weight management expert I know this week ahead can create challenges with food--1) because there will be a lot extra around and 2) because with the unstructured nature of the holiday it becomes easier to become overwhelmed and emotions can quickly get triggered, which could lead to turning to food for comfort.  That's where these gifts come in as my way to empower you this next week to keep yourself feeling good—healthy, light and in charge of your eating and self-care. (see below)

I know you will be busy these next days—so these gifts can be listened to (except the hypnosis—not while driving or carving the turkey) while you are wrapping presents, shopping and getting ready for the holiday. Please share with your friends—listen together to set a healthy tone for your season.

Remember alone we diet--together we SHIFT!HAPPY HOLIDAYS OXOX Rita Black—the Shift Weight Mastery Process
--Please also check out in the offers below the gifts on how to join our upcoming online 2014 Vision Board making party.

3 WISE SHIFT GIFTS

1)    The Gift of "Shift" Coaching--Click here  to get some quick video coaching on how to
get focused or refocus for the holiday week ahead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuPlXE0ZArs

2)    The Gift of "Shift" into Peace—Reduce Stress Hypnosis download
Right click here to download this relaxing session and sneak
away when the holiday hub-bub becomes too much.www.shiftweightmastery.com/shiftoutofstress.mp3

3)      The Gift of "Shifted" Inspiration-- Listen to these wise men and women
come bearing the gift of inspiration of how they made the Shift from Fat to Thin Thinking.  You can show up for yourself this week and
enter the New Year feeling light and healthy.

Tim C. released 68 pounds between last April’s Shift Weight Mastery Process and September.  He also recently completed a 10 K—a first for him—check out his story. www.shiftweightmastery.com/TimCastagnolaInterview.mp3
Michelle N. gives some powerful insights to what it took to release 58lbs and enjoyed the whole process--the key was changing the relationship with herself.
www.shiftweightmastery.com/MichelleN.mp3

Amy D. has released over 100lbs with the Shift-in-a-Box (it was 88 at the time of the interview) by learning to tune out the voice that kept her struggling and found a powerful voice that kept her SHIFTING even being in the midst of Hurricane Sandy.
www.shiftweightmastery.com/AmyDubeinterview.mp3

THESE HOLIDAY SPECIALS ARE ENDING
DISCOUNTED THROUGH JANUARY 1^ST--The next Shift Weight Mastery Process is January 25th—sign up now for the $100 DISCOUNT before January 1 and $175 discount when you and a friend Shift Together—contact Rita @ritasfl@aol.com 323 988 4574.

Re-Shift Process--Regroup and Refocus with this 30 day process that includes going though the Shift day intensive on January 25—join before January 1 and receive $50 off the already low price—c’mon you know you want to! Contact Rita @ritasfl@aol.com

NEW YEAR ONLINE VISION BOARD MAKING PARTY when you join the
 SHIFT MONTHLY MASTERY PROGRAM--1 month free trial--get additional support, online classes, and coaching through the holidays and into the new year. 

1)      End of year Vision Board Making Class on 12/29 mastery Members ONLY—come join the fun and get support and focus for the New Year!
This is the full scoop on the Monthly Mastery program:
http://www.shiftweightmastery.com/Page3.html
This is the Monthly Mastery support calendar for December:
http://www.shiftweightmastery.com/MonthlyMasteryDecember2013.html
This is the bonus offer:
http://www.shiftweightmastery.com/2013HolidayBonus.html