The daily dose ezine

It's been a losing battle so far - But I will win the war

2012-02-11T06:32:08Z

Want to know where you can connect in person with me? You'll find out in a moment ...

I decided to get back onto my "diet" to finally drop the last of the weight I wanted to lose back on the 19th December 2011 - well why wait until January 1st. Please note, i am not that overweight, but I am at the upper end of the body weight for height scale. I have now decided I want to be at the lower end of the scale for a change.

Sure enough, I dropped a couple of kilos - and some of it over Christmas.

This is going to be a doddle I thought.

Then my gym re-started their 12 week challenge (mid Jan) and I joined in as a way to keep myself honest. I organised a "proper" eating plan - and promptly stopped losing weight.

Couple of things. Turns out the gym's scale was wrong - so when they bought a new set I was heavier than I thought I was - that was depressing I will have you know. I know it's all relative and I was probably just heavier to begin with - but after seeing the numbers come down for weeks on end, it was a problem seeing them go back up again - especially when I had not been particular "naughty" for the weeks I had been supposedly eating "properly".

I adjusted the diet plan, still no movement the weeks following
I upped the exercise again (hard to do when you are running an injury), and still no movement
4 weeks into their challenge, and I was all for throwing in the towel after losing 1 whole kilo (2.2lbs). woopee flippin doo

But I knew I was losing size, the exercise was working on the shape because my clothes were either fitting better or becoming too big round the middle.

But I knew that fixing it meant sorting out the food - once and for all.

So I have all but ditched the low fat, carb based eating plan I was given and switched back to my old diet of protein, minimal pure carbs, veggies and salad, not much fruit and - I'll let you know.

I upped the exercise again this week - well the knee and the back are holding up at the moment - so ... I am dropping another challenge into my 100 days:

One of my personal challenges for the 100 day challenge is to find at least 30 minutes of exercise time every day. Not incidental exercise, but sweat, power walk and core body work type of exercise, especially if it is not a gym or personal training day. 30 minutes I can surely find time for 30 minutes of what I call "proper" exercise while still doing my incidental stuff. Well - there are 24 hours, that's 48 half hours - 48, surely 1 can be used for proper exercise.

Oh and by the way after I dropped several things back out of my diet the nutritionist had put in (namely carbs and a lot of fruit, neither of which I process very well for some reason) I FINALLY had movement on the scale - 900g to be precise.

It's a relief I can tell you.

The positive gives me a boost and more incentive to move forwards, to keep pushing for the new week. Working from a negative last week was hard work - depressingly hard work I have to say. Positives are easier to work from - so a very big tip here - find at least 1 positive every day to help you push forwards with your personal challenges.

Best

Elle
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Where are we?
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Monday i join a good friend at Challenger's Peel Campus for their student welcome days.

What can I say - Motivate Me to Study HARD :-D

If you are there on Monday, come by and say hi, would love to see you

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I have two words to say to you

2012-02-08T12:36:25Z

I have two words to say to you

THANK YOU

You are truly inspirational - each and every one of you. I would especially like to thank those who have shared personal struggles and stories. I may not know exactly what you are going through, but I do know how hard it can be to admit you need help - like I said, you are inspirational.

You never cease to amaze me what you do each day if the feedback is anything to go by; I've discovered that -

* When life gives you problems, you take a deep breath, pull yourself up by the bootstraps and you go again.

* You are not willing to live with what you have, because you know you are capable of so much more - and so you follow through with the homework that is set...

* You take my advice - and sometimes you tell me to stick it, and you know what - that's great because I know I need to raise my game, and

* You forward on those messages that have inspired you to people you know who may benefit from hearing the same, well -

I just wanted you to know that you help make me a much better person and I just wanted to say so

Thanks

Here's to a very big and amazing life we have been priviliged to have been given. Consider yourself hugged.

Elle

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When you don't walk the walk

2012-02-06T13:07:34Z

I drive a lot of miles each day. Consequently I get to see a lot of "interesting" driving.

Take tonight for instance. 3 lanes of solid traffic, all moving at the speed limit (makes a change). One gentleman screams up behind me and begins to inch closer and closer to my bumper - I don't know about you, but i hate people who think that if they bully and harass you long enough you'll get out of the way. I normally slow down for people like this, I don't care if they are late for dinner - you don't ride my bumper and hope that I will give in gracefully. Thankfully the 2 cars either side of me didn't let the idiot through either.

Unfortunately we couldn't play that game for long because he weaved through us at the next set of traffic lights, and promptly played dodgems through the traffic - and then I caught up with him.

He was driving a company vehicle, emblazoned with the corporate logo, signage and telephone number on the back. So, making sure my car was in neutral, handbrake on I got out my notebook and pen and wrote down his number plate and I will be speaking with the company tomorrow.

What (and I don't know which adjective to use here) amused / amazed / horrified me - a little while later I caught up with the same idiot who had decided to slow down and was doing 20 kilometres below the speed limit - because between his hands on the top of the steering wheel was a BOOK. He was reading and driving at the same time. I just wish I could have taken a picture, because you just had to see it to believe it. It was probably an appointments book, which makes it even worse. What company insists their employees have to cram so many appointments into a single day, they are not given enough time between appointments to make the drive in a safe manner?

For the owners of the organisations who receive this - a word of advice for your next team meeting - your business is on show all the time if you have corporate vehicles emblazoned with your name on it. Similarly every time someone wears a "uniform" and has the name of the company / store stuck across their body somewhere.

My question to you as you go about your day is this

Are the people who work for you / you work with walking the walk - or should they be walking the plank?

Apologies for the vent, but corporate standards of dress and behaviour have always been a pet peeve of mine ... just so you know.

Best

Elle

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100 Day Challenge Update:
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I promised you a compilation of items that I will have read during the 100 days of the challenge that MAY interest you. Some will, some won't... but there will be at least 100 things in the list by the end of the 100 days and my reasons why they impacted on me.

The first 3 are ready for your perusal including today's

Would you throw away a book? How about hundreds of them? I have ...

http://www.motivateme.info/100-day-challenge/2012/2/6/100-things-that-ive-read-in-100-days-that-may-interest-you.html

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The 100 Day Challenge: Running with the Red Queen or Believing 6 impossible things before lunch

2012-02-04T06:55:54Z

The 100 Day Challenge: 4th February 2012
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Running with the Red Queen or believing 6 impossible things before lunch

With thanks to both Lewis Carroll and a colleague for reminding me of these quotes, thanks JD

What do we mean by "running with the red queen"?

Well for those like me who needed a reminder, the Red Queen ran on the spot.

Life can seem like that, forever running on the spot, trying to catch up with what happened yesterday to even think about today.

Well today and for the next 100 days we are going to break free from the habits that have left us stuck on our personal treadmills (or if you prefer - the hamster wheel) and we are going to achieve some amazing things. Don't shake your head at me. As Bob the Builder would ask - can we fix it?

or in our case - can we do it?

Can we make significant gains and breakthroughs in the next 100 days?

Answer: .................................................

What can you achieve?:
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Whatever you deem important. But to give you some idea, since we began running these challenges in 2009 we have had:

* Businesses created
* Books written
* Hundreds of pounds lost in weight
* Sold houses and travelled the world
* Houses cleaned of clutter
* Marathons trained for and run
* Debts paid off and

Many, many other wonderful and personal challenges such as

* Reducing reliance on alcohol and sleep medication
* Reducing the number of cigarettes smoked
* Not sleeping past 7.30 in the morning

Once you make up your mind to do something - you will be astounded at what you are truly capable of. So:

Your Action Step Today:
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You should have worked through your Master To Do List and transferred the results to Day 1 of your challenge:

Your action step today is to schedule into your diary / calendar / schedule - when you are going to work on your challenges.

Personally I find first thing in the morning to be the best time, that way we cannot say

I'll do that in a bit

No - we get up and we get going

Habits and rituals are so very important when we are starting to create the new disciplines we need. That way by the time the end of the challenge rolls around, they are just part our normal lives and we can move onto other challenges that may be facing us.

So - for instance - if you say good health is important to you and part of that good health is to create a new discipline of doing 30 minutes of exercise every day, you need to work out when you are going to exercise every day and schedule it into your diary. Once that appointment time comes around, you get up and you get going. No excuses, no waiting for the time to be right, the weather to be right, the clothes to fit properly - get up and get going.

* Schedule the phone calls you need to make to grow your business
* Schedule the time to reach out to contacts via the social media to grow your business
* Schedule the time to reach out to the people you need to say thank you, sorry, or anything else to

Schedule time, be it 5 minutes or 5 hours - but it has to be consistent

Then once it has been scheduled:

2nd Action Step Today:
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Choose 1 thing and work on it - given that we are already part way through Day 1 - make a start TODAY on 1 challenge.

That's it, one challenge - today, and preferably something that will take you out of your comfort zone. For me it was rejoining the public library. One of my challenges is to read at least 100 "things" during the next 100 days.... 100 books is probably going to be a bit much to cram into my day given what is going to happen mid point through this challenge (which was a challenge in itself from last time - but I'm not revealing all just yet), but 100 chapters, 100 articles, 100 - somethings - basically to read something new every single day. With that in mind I have been going through my local libraries in recent weeks scoping out the best one for my needs. Today I re-joined the public library - not my old one, just one that had the resources I need and I found my first 5 books. I will keep a list of the ones I get through and will write a brief summary of what I got from it ... Personal and professional development has always been high on my list of prioritiesl, today I am making that commitment formal.

That is one of my challenges: Find 100 "things" / items that can make a difference to the way all our lives turn out...

What about you?

What can you do today to make today the best day it could possibly be?

Here's to the next 100 days and many, many completed challenges. Don't forget to connect with me on the social sites below, because I will be posting additional comments / suggestions and follow ups through Twitter and Facebook ...

If you want to share your challenges you can do so here, or in the forum

http://www.motivateme.info/daily-dose-ezine/2012/2/4/the-100-day-challenge-running-with-the-red-queen-or-believin.html

http://www.motivateme.info/100-day-challenge-forum/

Obviously if you would like a copy of the 100 Day Challenge Workbook (and the associated files to help you) you can do that here - http://www.motivateme.info/challenge/

Best

Elle

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Putting things off

2012-02-01T12:02:06Z

What have you put off doing so far today?

Why?

The reason for the question is simple, if the answer a little profound

Once you recognise and acknowledge what and why - you can normally "shame" yourself into doing something about them ...

So - what have you deliberately put off doing today?

With many thoughts

Elle

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100 day challenge:
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Did you download your copy of the master task list creator?

http://www.motivateme.info/daily-dose-ezine/2012/1/30/creating-your-master-to-do-list-starting-the-next-100-day-ch.html

Remember, the next 100 day challenge starts Saturday 4th February 2012

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Let's Connect:
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http://www.twitter.com/MotivateMe_info
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Creating your master to do list: Starting the next 100 day challenge

2012-01-30T12:57:27Z

“A goal without a plan is just a wish”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900 – 1944)

It can take time and a lot of thought to determine what it is you want out of life.

I have created a new resource for you. Your first challenge is to download a copy of the

Master To Do List Workbook ...

The workbook allows you to take stock of what you say is important to you. Take the time to answer the questions, ponder your reasons and what steps you think you will need to take.

We will talk soon.

Best

Elle

Make overlife success your goal.

2012-01-27T11:47:08Z

"I don't have time" is perhaps THE most overused excuse there is.

I don't have time to exercise
I don't have time to pack my lunch the night before
I don't have time to ...

Have you noticed, there are those people who always seem to find time to sit around the house / office and complain they don't have the time ... I'm sure you know one or two people like that, I know I do.

What amuses me is they found the time to sit around the house / office and complain about it. I bet they even found time to add that comment to facebook, send a message to their friends and managed to tell every person who came within earshot how they don't have the time.

Truth is we all have the time to do those things we want to do.

I think it isn't that we don't have the time, it's that we:

a) can't be bothered
b) are bored
c) want to be someplace else
d) all of the above

Now I know there will be times when we are all rushed off our feet and can't juggle everything there is to juggle. But in the main?

So how do we deal with our perceived lack of time?

1. Be honest - how are you using your time? Use the timelog we created, believe me it works - http://www.motivateme.info/downloads-and-free-stuff and it's absolutely fr** you just have to go and download it.

2. What would you prefer to be doing? What steps can you take today to reach that "goal"?

3. Find goals that excite you - if you have exciting things to work on and look forward to - you won't ever feel "bored" but you may genuinely say "I'm running out of time".

4. Take time out. If you HAVE been working without a break for weeks on end, then you do need to schedule in some down time. Time where you sit and do nothing. Recharge your brain. We may think we are being productive, but you cannot be productive 8 hours of every day it is a physical impossibility. And before you say - well if I don't do it then ... believe me we all think we are irreplaceable, butthe truth is as Napoleon so rightly pointed out "the graveyeards are full of irreplaceable men"

5. Make time to exercise - every day. Schedule some physical activity into every single day - even if you have to diarise it. I love making appointments with my personal trainer - they keep me honest. Similarly with my self-imposed gym sessions - 3 times a week, they are an appointment I make with myself. I was there this morning at 6am and with my trainer tonight at 6pm - that was the only time she could get me in this week, so that was the time I went. Sometimes we have to go out of our way to do something we know we want to do. And isn't that the key?

6. Fake it until you make it - When you are complaining about a lack of time you are not going to be in the best of moods. However, if you can pretend you are enjoying what you are doing - at least the time will go faster.

Work out what exactly is important to you - that is the first step
Ensure that you do make time in your calendar to complete these activities.

Tomorrow marks the end of the first 4 weeks of 2012. Are you on track with your first month goals?

And don't worry if you think your achievements to date are tiny. It is these small, but measureable steps that lead us to achieving our bigger goals. Don't worry about overnight success - make overlife success your goal.

With many exciting days to look forward to

Elle

Getting rid of bad habits: Going cold turkey

2012-01-26T01:58:06Z

I was wondering where the term "going cold turkey" came from and discovered interestingly enough that it comes from the drug slang for people needing to stop using heroin. Nowadays it is a term used "to suddenly and completely stop doing something, esp. a bad habit" (dictinary.com)

Bad habits, those things we don't think we have - until we try and stop doing them.

Someone once said it takes 30 days to break a bad habit. I have no idea who created that myth, truth be told, you don't break bad habits, you overlay new habits over the top. Slowly and surely the new habit takes over from the old one. Unless you can go "cold turkey" that is, and depending on what habit you are trying to break you may be able to do just that. However, most people I know struggle with the cold turkey approach, so overlaying a new habit over the old habit may be the way to do it for you.

Now, a word of caution - these new habits could be good or bad.

You decide to swap the gym after work for a beer with your friends - just this once, is a lot easier than deciding to swap the beer with friends after work with going to the gym ... well it's hot / wet / i've had a hard / bad day / I deserve a break

When you are trying to create the habits that you do want, remember that it will take time AND a lot of practice with deliberate thinking on your part before they become second nature (ie a habit). Once you have them though, it can be like removing impacted concrete with a tooth pick, which is why they are so hard to get rid of once they are established.

    What new habits would you like to create?
    Which of your old habits would you like to get rid of?

What steps can you take today to overlay a new habit over an old one that is no longer serving you?

    Instead of having a cigarette I will go for a 10 minute walk
    Instead of a bar of chocolate I will ...
    Instead of a glass of wine with dinner I will
    Instead of watching the television while I am doing my homework I will listen to music
    Instead of playing games all night I will switch everything off at 10pm and create a new nighttime routine, that way I will get the sleep I need ...

Repeated action over time = new habits

But the question is, are you will to take the steps to achieve them?

Let me know ...

With many thoughts

Elle

p.s. for those celebrating Australia Day, stay safe and enjoy the festivities
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You can exceed expectations

2012-01-23T10:33:42Z

How can you exceed expectations?

Decide

And only you can do that.

But how?

Well consider the following. How far will you go if you decide:

Today is going to be the best day it can possibly be
Today is the day you are going to make decisions
Today is the day you will take action
Today is the day you will say no to those things that do not serve you or your business
Today is the day you will say thank you and mean it
Today is the day you will give praise where it is due and make adjustments where they need to be made
Today is the day you leave work at work because your family need you at your best too
Today is the day you ask for help if you need it
Today is the day you look at the life you have been given and find every positive there is to find.
Today is the day you don't let the negative ruin and rule your life
Today is the day you ...

But only you can decide

Elle

Well if he can, what on earth are we doing?

2012-01-21T06:14:20Z

Today marks the end of the first 3 weeks of 2012. That means there is (yes you guessed it) just 10 days left in the first month of this year.

I won't beat about the bush - what have you managed to achieve so far this year?

If you are anything like most people, you will start the new year strong. Well it is the NEW YEAR and we all tend to start the new year with a renewed vigour. This IS the year I am going to ...

As you know, not only do I like to start the year strong (boy have I got some news to share with you soon), but I like to lay down the challenge to you, so that you can FINISH the year strongly too.

And no, we don't cruise through the middle of the year ... tsk, tsk

So, when I asked you recently if you were ready to start the new challenge - which is coming soon BTW, Andrew told me that not only was he in ... but what he had accomplished in the last 100 days of 2011.

I leave the next bit to Andrew, he said:

In the hundred days I managed to:

1. Get rid off my overdraft - no mean feat after my divorce.

2. Reduced from a 34" waist to a 32" waist (first time in about 20 years!!)

3. Got four dates confirmed to deliver my training workshops and kick start my business (first one this Sunday).

4. Came to an agreement on the divorce - just waiting for the solicitors to sign it all through and get it stamped.

5. Sold my house - I should be signing early next week and moving a week on Friday - it's been on the market for 18 months.

and a nearly done one of:

Stop smoking. Managed to stop for two months but caved in under some of the stress of achieving some of the above - an excuse I know :), but not defeated and will revisit as soon as I move!

So, yes I'm up for the next challenge...

Andrew

*picks self off the floor*

I have to say it makes my last 100 days look pretty pathetic in comparison let me tell you.

Time to raise the game I say.

Were you able to top Andrew in last year's challenge ... if you can, and want to inspire your fellow readers, please email me and I will share your triumphs with the rest of the team ...

If you want to publicly share your first challenge goals for 2012 - you can do so here ... again, you don't need to add your name, but it would be nice if you did :-)

I'm cheating slightly as I am already working on my BIGGEST challenge already - well it is going to take me at least 3/4 of the year - yes I am finally going to get rid of the last 21 kilos I have been carrying round with me for the last 8 years, and have enlisted the help of not 1 but 2 dieticians, my partner, my personal trainer AND a gym to keep me on track ... shame the gyms scales were wrong at the start of the year and I was getting so excited too ... but I am a kilo down since wednesday so all is good ... But this year is already shaping up to be massive, and I don't just mean on the scale ...

Are you as excited as I am ...

Let me know what you want to achieve this year ... go on I challenge you to do so

Best

Elle

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