While in Cincinnati this week, I had one night where I simply couldn't get outdoors early enough to walk in the park. I had to use the hotel "gym", which consisted of two treadmills and a scale. Two things were not cool about this. The treadmill, and the scale. I used their scale which said that I was an astonishing 25 pounds heavier than mine at home says! Now, I didn't let this bother me at all because I have weighed myself in numerous locations, and they never match up, but they're all in the same range. Also, I know that regardless of what I actually weigh, I have lost 45 pounds and that's for sure. BUT, it did leave me kind of irritated. I have since checked a couple of scales that put me back where I thought I was. I calibrated that scale at the hotel, but it obviously was still way off.
The second thing was just having to walk on a treadmill. I used to LOVE the treadmill, so I was fine with that. When I got on and started going, I found that I no longer enjoy it at all. I've become so accustomed to walking in nature, and being mindful while doing so, that I really enjoy that connection I get with nature. So I mustered my mindfulness training and pushed forward. I didn't want to watch TV or listen to music, which would possibly take me away from myself, so I tried extra hard to stay mindful. Instead, I kept catching myself worrying too much about how long it was taking, how many calories I had burned, how many miles I had been. Since the treadmill was about all there was to look at, I enjoyed it less and less as I went on.
Finally, I pulled out my iPhone4 and fired up a slideshow of all the beautiful pictures I had taken in the park the day before. I put it on play, and sat it on the tray of the treadmill, then pretended I was walking in that park. With the images, it made it so much easier to enjoy the time. I found that once I focused on the pictures of nature, I was able to be mindful and focus on the things I normally give gratitude for when I walk.
Was this cheating? Did I use a tool to help me avoid reality in order to then be mindful? I'm not sure, but I know that it not only made the no-fun situation more bearable, but it also helped me be MORE mindful, by distracting myself! Strange. Not sure what to make of that, but it worked.
This also brings up another item. I posted almost 24 hours ago for people to just ask for a free app code and haven't gotten a single response, although I have had a lot of traffic. This makes me wonder if anyone who is currently reading this blog is an iPhone user or not? Let me know, I'd be curious.
Have a GREAT day!
MondoSamu
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Ask, and it is given....
...Well...at least five times anyhow....and only if it's a FREE PROMO CODE for an iPhone Meditate - Meditation Timer by SimpleTouch Software!
SimpleTouch Software was kind enough to give me some promo codes (see my "full disclosure" section in the lower right of the blog if you have questions or concerns as to how I handle this sort of thing).
So, pretty simple here....No contests or crazy rules....simply be one of the first five people to post and ask nicely for a free code, and I will email it to you if you include your email address. That simple.
I ask for nothing in return, but I would gently suggest that if you like it, be sure you let the developer know and spread the word. It's a great app deserving of much love!
Enjoy!
MondoSamu
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
REVIEW: Meditate - Meditation Timer by SimpleTouch
After my morning Tai Chi, and using LoseIt! to enter my exercise on my iPhone, the next step of my morning routine is to use another iPhone app called Meditate - Meditation Timer by SimpleTouch Software. As this app is about as close to perfection as I can imagine an app being, this review will be much shorter than some others might.
I settle down for a brief meditation. Actually, a word on that…If you think that meditation is something you don't have time for, please find a way to fit it in. It doesn't matter if it's an hour, 30 minutes, 15, 10 or even 1 or 2 minutes! Even just a few breaths can be a meditation. If you seriously think that's not possible, then use your Tai Chi or other exercise as moving meditation. Use your walking as walking meditation. Just find a way to fit it in, because the benefits are great. Some might say that meditation has no place in a weight loss program. I would argue strongly that it does. It helps you calm yourself, think clearly and especially the quick, three breath re-focusing type, will help you live in the moment and focus when you are about to make a food or exercise decision. If you do this before you order your lunch, you might find yourself eating much healthier.
Anyhow, I settle down, and relax, then hit the Meditate app icon. Each time you enter the app, you will find a different lush and vibrant background image of a calming scene. In the foreground you are shown a VERY slick control panel for the app. What you see, with this app, is ALL you get. It's designed to do one thing, VERY simply, and VERY well. At the top is the time you have allowed for meditation. Beneath that are six buttons:
Preparation (time)
Mediation (time)
Interval (time)
Cool Down (time)
Minus (-)
Plus (+)
The bottom has the "Meditate" button, which starts your timer. When you tap that, the control panel flips horizontally, and states the item (preparation, meditation, etc) at the top, has a large countdown timer in the middle and a restart and pause button at the bottom.
That's all, folks! There's no additional screens for setup, about us, website, nothing! Meditate - Meditation Timer is perfectly stunning visually, perfectly simple in it's layout and operation, requires virtually NO setup and operates flawlessly. One job, perfectly performed in a beautiful way. What more could you possibly want in an app!
I've tried countless other options such as the popular Zazen Suite, and the Equanimity app. All have their pros and cons. What makes the Meditate app so special, at least to me, is there ARE NO CONS! It's all PROS! Just like the designers. Speaking of whom, I have communicated with SimpleTouch a few times and have found them to be extremely responsive, professional and friendly. Their professionalism as a developer seems to match their design aesthetic. Can't say anything nicer than that about them, if you ask me!
So, bottom line - If meditation is a part of your life, and you're an iPhone user, this app is non-optional. If there's a better mediation timer app out there, I have not seen it!
Til next time,
MondoSamu
I settle down for a brief meditation. Actually, a word on that…If you think that meditation is something you don't have time for, please find a way to fit it in. It doesn't matter if it's an hour, 30 minutes, 15, 10 or even 1 or 2 minutes! Even just a few breaths can be a meditation. If you seriously think that's not possible, then use your Tai Chi or other exercise as moving meditation. Use your walking as walking meditation. Just find a way to fit it in, because the benefits are great. Some might say that meditation has no place in a weight loss program. I would argue strongly that it does. It helps you calm yourself, think clearly and especially the quick, three breath re-focusing type, will help you live in the moment and focus when you are about to make a food or exercise decision. If you do this before you order your lunch, you might find yourself eating much healthier.
Anyhow, I settle down, and relax, then hit the Meditate app icon. Each time you enter the app, you will find a different lush and vibrant background image of a calming scene. In the foreground you are shown a VERY slick control panel for the app. What you see, with this app, is ALL you get. It's designed to do one thing, VERY simply, and VERY well. At the top is the time you have allowed for meditation. Beneath that are six buttons:
Preparation (time)
Mediation (time)
Interval (time)
Cool Down (time)
Minus (-)
Plus (+)
The bottom has the "Meditate" button, which starts your timer. When you tap that, the control panel flips horizontally, and states the item (preparation, meditation, etc) at the top, has a large countdown timer in the middle and a restart and pause button at the bottom.
That's all, folks! There's no additional screens for setup, about us, website, nothing! Meditate - Meditation Timer is perfectly stunning visually, perfectly simple in it's layout and operation, requires virtually NO setup and operates flawlessly. One job, perfectly performed in a beautiful way. What more could you possibly want in an app!
I've tried countless other options such as the popular Zazen Suite, and the Equanimity app. All have their pros and cons. What makes the Meditate app so special, at least to me, is there ARE NO CONS! It's all PROS! Just like the designers. Speaking of whom, I have communicated with SimpleTouch a few times and have found them to be extremely responsive, professional and friendly. Their professionalism as a developer seems to match their design aesthetic. Can't say anything nicer than that about them, if you ask me!
So, bottom line - If meditation is a part of your life, and you're an iPhone user, this app is non-optional. If there's a better mediation timer app out there, I have not seen it!
Til next time,
MondoSamu
Gratitude
Hello, welcome and thank you! I have received a ton of new traffic since Dr. Lilian Cheung mentioned MondoSamu on the Savor Facebook page. I thought I should take a moment to show some gratitude to her for the lovely mention and then to each of you who has taken time out of your life to spend reading my words. I'm especially grateful to those who have commented that this blog has had some positive impact for them. You can't know what that means to me, and I'm so happy for you all as well.
So WELCOME! Come back to see me from time to time. I will try to post daily, or as often as my work schedule will permit. I look forward to sharing ideas, stories and information and learning from each of you.
MondoSamu
So WELCOME! Come back to see me from time to time. I will try to post daily, or as often as my work schedule will permit. I look forward to sharing ideas, stories and information and learning from each of you.
MondoSamu
Monday, October 11, 2010
Staying mindful on the road
I travel for work a good bit, and today I found myself in Cincinnati. I had been planning on eating at Skyline Chili (famous local chili joint) even until I landed. But when I looked for nearby eateries, a good vegan place caught my eye. I mustered my mindfulness and chose Melt Eclectic Cafe.
I had a BBQ chicken sandwich and cup of chili. All vegan and DELICIOUS!!!
I worked the rest of the day, then headed up to Devou Park for a great mindful walk.
Lastly, I finished the day with dinner by the water with another veggie choice. Edamame hummus with wheat pita, and veggies. And then a spring mix salad with walnuts, sun dried cranberries, English cukes, Bleu cheese and a basil orange balsamic vinaigrette.
I'm always so glad when I manage to eat great food, mindfully, and get great exercise in, when I'm on the road and it's so easy to eat poorly and sit around.
What a great day!
Mondo Samu
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I had a BBQ chicken sandwich and cup of chili. All vegan and DELICIOUS!!!
I worked the rest of the day, then headed up to Devou Park for a great mindful walk.
Lastly, I finished the day with dinner by the water with another veggie choice. Edamame hummus with wheat pita, and veggies. And then a spring mix salad with walnuts, sun dried cranberries, English cukes, Bleu cheese and a basil orange balsamic vinaigrette.
I'm always so glad when I manage to eat great food, mindfully, and get great exercise in, when I'm on the road and it's so easy to eat poorly and sit around.
What a great day!
Mondo Samu
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Simply LoseIt! with Tai Chi
So, now that we've established that Savor!
is the foundation of my work to lose weight, let's move on to the details of what I am doing.
My normal wake up time was 5:30 a.m., and I am a morning person. My wife and kid are awesome, so to keep from losing time with them, I started getting up at 4:45 a.m., and the first thing I do (after caring for the family pets) is Tai Chi.
I pop in the Simply Tai Chi DVD, and do the warm up and then the 12 forms for 30 minutes. Some days, I switch it out for a different style like the Yang style and do something a little different to keep it fresh.
I'm not qualified, by any stretch of the imagination, to write knowledgeably on Tai Chi, so I won't spend a lot of time on that. Just know that, for me, it has proven to be a fantastic way to do some moving meditation, and burn some calories, doing something I truly enjoy and is low impact. Beyond that you can check out the Wikipedia page which has some great links and information for further research.
More importantly, when I am done with that morning exercise, I immediately use the first of several iPhone apps I rely on:
LoseIt! by FitNow;
I tap on LoseIt, and enter my exercise (30 minutes of Tai Chi), then it posts that automatically (because I set it up to do so) on FaceBook so that all my friends who are using their time to play FarmVille can see that I have just used mine to get in shape and lose weight!
When I weigh in on Sunday or Monday, LoseIt! posts any losses (again, because I allowed it to do so) on my FaceBook as well.
Let me explain what (in my opinion) is the magic of LoseIt! - Nothing! There is no magic! LoseIt! makes it easy for busy folks to lose weight by doing what doctors the world over have been telling overweight people to do FOR-E-VER! WATCH WHAT YOU EAT!
It sounds simple, but in a SEA of diets that each take their own path to help you lose weight, and usually fail, LoseIt! relies on the age old idea that if you pay attention to what you are eating, keep a journal of it, track the calories, you will lose weight. This app fits extremely well with the Savor book because, if used, it MAKES you mindful of what it is that you consume, and how many calories it is. Let me give you a real life example:
Up until a few months ago, a typical morning breakfast for me was a bowl of cereal at home, either a Starbucks Venti Mocha Frap or 44 oz. Soda (sometimes both), and either a Chocolate Chunk Cookie from Starbucks or a King Sized Reese's Fast Break candy bar. That was breakfast. Then one day, I started using LoseIt! to track my intake. I diligently entered all my breakfast items. Being a 6'4" 349 pound guy (back then) I had a calorie allotment of around 2500 calories or so per day. The breakfast above went something like this (rounded for simplicity): Cereal (380) + Soda (500) + Candy (480) = 1440 calories for BREAKFAST! Not to mention all the sugar! For lunch I would typically have a 1000 - 1500 calorie meal from some fast food joint, then dinner might be another 1500-2000 calories from say, maybe, a half a pizza. Grand total on a given day could range from 4000-5000 calories!!! More than double my appropriate amount!!! Add to that the fact that I am a sedentary office IT guy who LOATHED heat and sweating…and you get the formula that created my 349 lb. self.
On that first time using LoseIt!, when I saw the fact that my breakfast meal was well over half my daily allowance, I realized two things immediately.
So, I cut soda out. I used LoseIt! and lost 28 lbs. within a couple of months and was excited. Then several factors caused me to fall off of it for a while and one day all that and more had come back to haunt me! (Once again, let me stress that I was missing the mindfulness I have now found in Savor)
I've now been using LoseIt! for the last 3 months DAILY. Setting up the "Motivators" (such as allowing it to post to FaceBook) has helped keep me at it this time, but really it's the Savor book that has helped me apply mindfulness so well that has kept me at it the most. But, the bottom line is, I use it daily, I track my calories and my exercise, and I have now lost 45 pounds!
Now, to be fair, I can not tell you that LoseIt! is the perfect app (that honor goes to Happy Tapper and SimpleTouch for their apps I will talk about later). There have been some bumps for me using it. The first was the total loss of all my data during an update to the IOS. Not actually their fault, but it happened none the less and there was nothing in place to prevent it. They have since implemented online backups! I also had, and continue to have, trouble finding a lot of the foods I eat in their database. It's always been strange to me that they seem to have all the worst foods of a place, rather than the good items. Like, they'll have SOME items that Burger Queen sells, but not ALL of them. Or whatever. It can be frustrating and, in the beginning, I think it could cause you to stop using it because what you eat may not be in the database. They have since done regular updates, but this continues to be an issue. Luckily, after a few months of using it, most of your stuff will be entered so it's no problem.
Now the great stuff! The food entry methods are great! They give you a bunch of great ways to find foods quickly which is extremely important. You can search the overall database, your own foods, or you can quickly select from previous meals. This last one is a GREAT thing if you eat the same breakfast every day or similar. Also, you can create your own recipes, which can be a little time consuming, but is GREAT! And other ways as well. This app, just in general, works extremely well, and it's navigation is it's strongest feature in my opinion. I think it's the simplicity and ease of navigation that keeps me coming back. Also, a recent update introduced the ability to use the "app" online without having a smartphone. So if you are not an iPhone user and still want to take advantage, you can! They also greatly improved their overal structure online and introduced social networking with other users of the app. It's pretty darned slick. And in a less important nod to them, I have to give them serious props for their VERY nice security setup, AND testing....some social networking sites out there who rhyme with Schmacebook could take a page out of FitNow's book and be a lot better off!
There are countless other options out there that I have tried (because I keep hoping for a more comprehensive database and BAR CODE SCANNING!), but I keep coming back. Calorie Counter is a good one, but ultimately (like most of the available apps for calorie counting) is a little overly complex for what it does. All-In Fitness is a really slick app, but for some reason didn't appeal to me (though I am a fan of their apps). And the best competitor to LoseIt! in my opinion is the LiveStrong.com app. It is also more complex than I want, and not terribly slick, but it has the very best calorie database I have found anywhere. There are numerous options for almost anything I have tried to find, even obscure items. I believe - though I have no factual info on this - that it uses customer sourced info to build it's database, which can be both good and bad. I like it so much, in fact, that I use it to find calorie info I can't find in LoseIt! and then enter them in.
So, to wrap up, LoseIt! is not perfection, but it's a fantastic app with a very strong community of support. In recent months they have been a lot more responsive with new updates and I believe they even have a book coming out about the app as well.
If I could only choose one app to recommend for calorie tracking it would be LoseIt!
Have you got a similar app that you prefer? Please tell me what and why? Let's get the Mondo part of MondoSamu happening! A little two-way discussion and sharing of info!
Go get LoseIt!
Til next time (when we discuss Meditate - Meditation Timer by SimpleTouch).
MondoSamu
is the foundation of my work to lose weight, let's move on to the details of what I am doing.My normal wake up time was 5:30 a.m., and I am a morning person. My wife and kid are awesome, so to keep from losing time with them, I started getting up at 4:45 a.m., and the first thing I do (after caring for the family pets) is Tai Chi.
I pop in the Simply Tai Chi DVD, and do the warm up and then the 12 forms for 30 minutes. Some days, I switch it out for a different style like the Yang style and do something a little different to keep it fresh.
I'm not qualified, by any stretch of the imagination, to write knowledgeably on Tai Chi, so I won't spend a lot of time on that. Just know that, for me, it has proven to be a fantastic way to do some moving meditation, and burn some calories, doing something I truly enjoy and is low impact. Beyond that you can check out the Wikipedia page which has some great links and information for further research.
More importantly, when I am done with that morning exercise, I immediately use the first of several iPhone apps I rely on:
LoseIt! by FitNow;
I tap on LoseIt, and enter my exercise (30 minutes of Tai Chi), then it posts that automatically (because I set it up to do so) on FaceBook so that all my friends who are using their time to play FarmVille can see that I have just used mine to get in shape and lose weight!
When I weigh in on Sunday or Monday, LoseIt! posts any losses (again, because I allowed it to do so) on my FaceBook as well.
Let me explain what (in my opinion) is the magic of LoseIt! - Nothing! There is no magic! LoseIt! makes it easy for busy folks to lose weight by doing what doctors the world over have been telling overweight people to do FOR-E-VER! WATCH WHAT YOU EAT!
It sounds simple, but in a SEA of diets that each take their own path to help you lose weight, and usually fail, LoseIt! relies on the age old idea that if you pay attention to what you are eating, keep a journal of it, track the calories, you will lose weight. This app fits extremely well with the Savor
book because, if used, it MAKES you mindful of what it is that you consume, and how many calories it is. Let me give you a real life example:Up until a few months ago, a typical morning breakfast for me was a bowl of cereal at home, either a Starbucks Venti Mocha Frap or 44 oz. Soda (sometimes both), and either a Chocolate Chunk Cookie from Starbucks or a King Sized Reese's Fast Break candy bar. That was breakfast. Then one day, I started using LoseIt! to track my intake. I diligently entered all my breakfast items. Being a 6'4" 349 pound guy (back then) I had a calorie allotment of around 2500 calories or so per day. The breakfast above went something like this (rounded for simplicity): Cereal (380) + Soda (500) + Candy (480) = 1440 calories for BREAKFAST! Not to mention all the sugar! For lunch I would typically have a 1000 - 1500 calorie meal from some fast food joint, then dinner might be another 1500-2000 calories from say, maybe, a half a pizza. Grand total on a given day could range from 4000-5000 calories!!! More than double my appropriate amount!!! Add to that the fact that I am a sedentary office IT guy who LOATHED heat and sweating…and you get the formula that created my 349 lb. self.
On that first time using LoseIt!, when I saw the fact that my breakfast meal was well over half my daily allowance, I realized two things immediately.
- I had to change something immediately
- SODA was my ENEMY!
So, I cut soda out. I used LoseIt! and lost 28 lbs. within a couple of months and was excited. Then several factors caused me to fall off of it for a while and one day all that and more had come back to haunt me! (Once again, let me stress that I was missing the mindfulness I have now found in Savor
)I've now been using LoseIt! for the last 3 months DAILY. Setting up the "Motivators" (such as allowing it to post to FaceBook) has helped keep me at it this time, but really it's the Savor
book that has helped me apply mindfulness so well that has kept me at it the most. But, the bottom line is, I use it daily, I track my calories and my exercise, and I have now lost 45 pounds! Now, to be fair, I can not tell you that LoseIt! is the perfect app (that honor goes to Happy Tapper and SimpleTouch for their apps I will talk about later). There have been some bumps for me using it. The first was the total loss of all my data during an update to the IOS. Not actually their fault, but it happened none the less and there was nothing in place to prevent it. They have since implemented online backups! I also had, and continue to have, trouble finding a lot of the foods I eat in their database. It's always been strange to me that they seem to have all the worst foods of a place, rather than the good items. Like, they'll have SOME items that Burger Queen sells, but not ALL of them. Or whatever. It can be frustrating and, in the beginning, I think it could cause you to stop using it because what you eat may not be in the database. They have since done regular updates, but this continues to be an issue. Luckily, after a few months of using it, most of your stuff will be entered so it's no problem.
Now the great stuff! The food entry methods are great! They give you a bunch of great ways to find foods quickly which is extremely important. You can search the overall database, your own foods, or you can quickly select from previous meals. This last one is a GREAT thing if you eat the same breakfast every day or similar. Also, you can create your own recipes, which can be a little time consuming, but is GREAT! And other ways as well. This app, just in general, works extremely well, and it's navigation is it's strongest feature in my opinion. I think it's the simplicity and ease of navigation that keeps me coming back. Also, a recent update introduced the ability to use the "app" online without having a smartphone. So if you are not an iPhone user and still want to take advantage, you can! They also greatly improved their overal structure online and introduced social networking with other users of the app. It's pretty darned slick. And in a less important nod to them, I have to give them serious props for their VERY nice security setup, AND testing....some social networking sites out there who rhyme with Schmacebook could take a page out of FitNow's book and be a lot better off!
There are countless other options out there that I have tried (because I keep hoping for a more comprehensive database and BAR CODE SCANNING!), but I keep coming back. Calorie Counter is a good one, but ultimately (like most of the available apps for calorie counting) is a little overly complex for what it does. All-In Fitness is a really slick app, but for some reason didn't appeal to me (though I am a fan of their apps). And the best competitor to LoseIt! in my opinion is the LiveStrong.com app. It is also more complex than I want, and not terribly slick, but it has the very best calorie database I have found anywhere. There are numerous options for almost anything I have tried to find, even obscure items. I believe - though I have no factual info on this - that it uses customer sourced info to build it's database, which can be both good and bad. I like it so much, in fact, that I use it to find calorie info I can't find in LoseIt! and then enter them in.
So, to wrap up, LoseIt! is not perfection, but it's a fantastic app with a very strong community of support. In recent months they have been a lot more responsive with new updates and I believe they even have a book coming out about the app as well.
If I could only choose one app to recommend for calorie tracking it would be LoseIt!
Have you got a similar app that you prefer? Please tell me what and why? Let's get the Mondo part of MondoSamu happening! A little two-way discussion and sharing of info!
Go get LoseIt!
Til next time (when we discuss Meditate - Meditation Timer by SimpleTouch).
MondoSamu
Thursday, October 7, 2010
"Savor" - The foundation of my process
"HOW?!"
That's the number one question people ask me when they see or hear that I have lost 45 pounds.
"Mindfulness" comes my one word answer.
Even when I tell them the more full length version as detailed in my previous post "The Plan!" it still sounds too easy. Everyone either expects more, or thinks I'm oversimplifying it. Eat mindfully, exercise mindfully. That's it.
Mindfulness, when you get right down to it, is all I am doing. Sure I am initiating several other efforts using a variety of tools, but each of them is being used and performed mindfully. The reason I stress this, is that I have done all of these things and COUNTLESS others in the past and none of those were successful individually. I truly believe that what has happened for me with "Savor" and it's mindfulness message, is that I have found the glue that holds all those other efforts together. The glue I was lacking in all my previous attempts.
I had a go at mindfulness once before. It was a fad diet book, that actually had a great message (Eat what you want, when you want, when your full - stop. And pay attention only to what you are eating.), and I still utilize it's core idea as part of my visualization process today. But, ultimately, that other book focused on only one area of a persons life. And that's where "Savor" excels. It focuses on THE area of your life!
From the first days of my mindfulness efforts, I found things like the "Apple Meditation" to be amazingly effective! Later in the book, I found the walking meditation to be a great practice as well. But in the end, it's a very common sense, logical approach to help you focus on what matters, listen to your body and be happy all the while. The end result? Whatever you want it to be!
Co-Authored by Nutritionist, Dr. Lilian Cheung, and Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh, the book gives a very good balance between the Buddhist point of view on mindfulness and the medical science of nutrition.
Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thay as he is referred to by his students, is a Buddhist Monk whom most agree is second only to the Dalai Lama himself in terms of influence. His life is a mind-boggling journey spanning decades of helping people who couldn't help themselves, yet those achievements - when reviewed on paper - seem so expansive as to have seemingly occupied three times his life span! It's simply astonishing how involved in bringing peace to the world he has been. From becoming a monastic at age 16, to helping to pioneer the idea of "Engaged Buddhism", to war relief, to youth services, hospitals, homeless, agricultural and many other areas Thich Nhat Hanh has tirelessly and ceaselessly helped spread love and mindfulness throughout the world, while helping people directly, and still has found time to author several dozen works as broad ranging in topic as his relief work is in scope. Oh, and he founded the Plum Village meditation community in France. Look up any of his talks on YouTube, and his sweet affable nature will endear you to him immediately.
Dr. Lilian W. Y. Cheung, D. Sc., R.D. is a nutritionist on the faculty of the Harvard School of Public Health's Dept. of Nutrition. She's been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh for years and knows more than a thing or two about the obesity crisis facing our country. She's been involved in numerous books, lectures, websites and mass media programs to help confront this problem, and hopefully - one day - put an end to it. She's an amazing thought leader, with her finger on the pulse of one of the nations most serious concerns. As a student (and teacher) of both nutrition AND Buddhism, she is uniquely qualified to bring this message of mindfulness to us from a perspective both spiritual and scientific.
I believe that the message of this book, and it's authors, has everything you need to help you make a change in your life that will be entirely positive and beneficial. Ultimately, you have to be ready and willing to make that change, or it's just so much good information. If you are, as I was, then this book could be the right message at the right time, for you to begin your own journey to a healthier, happier and more mindful life!
What I can not stress to you often enough, or clearly enough, is how utterly SIMPLE this weight loss effort has been for me. It's taken very little of my time, I have not craved things I have cut out, I have become a virtual vegetarian (Megitarian as my friend Alicia put it), have not been hungry - NONE of the usual things that come with diets and workouts. Utterly, amazingly, simple. It's as though, by simply making the decision to be this person, I am. And that's exactly what it is.
Best of luck to you, I literally wish this for you in my moving meditations!
M.S.
That's the number one question people ask me when they see or hear that I have lost 45 pounds.
"Mindfulness" comes my one word answer.
Even when I tell them the more full length version as detailed in my previous post "The Plan!" it still sounds too easy. Everyone either expects more, or thinks I'm oversimplifying it. Eat mindfully, exercise mindfully. That's it.
Mindfulness, when you get right down to it, is all I am doing. Sure I am initiating several other efforts using a variety of tools, but each of them is being used and performed mindfully. The reason I stress this, is that I have done all of these things and COUNTLESS others in the past and none of those were successful individually. I truly believe that what has happened for me with "Savor"
and it's mindfulness message, is that I have found the glue that holds all those other efforts together. The glue I was lacking in all my previous attempts.I had a go at mindfulness once before. It was a fad diet book, that actually had a great message (Eat what you want, when you want, when your full - stop. And pay attention only to what you are eating.), and I still utilize it's core idea as part of my visualization process today. But, ultimately, that other book focused on only one area of a persons life. And that's where "Savor"
excels. It focuses on THE area of your life!From the first days of my mindfulness efforts, I found things like the "Apple Meditation" to be amazingly effective! Later in the book, I found the walking meditation to be a great practice as well. But in the end, it's a very common sense, logical approach to help you focus on what matters, listen to your body and be happy all the while. The end result? Whatever you want it to be!
Co-Authored by Nutritionist, Dr. Lilian Cheung, and Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh, the book gives a very good balance between the Buddhist point of view on mindfulness and the medical science of nutrition.
Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thay as he is referred to by his students, is a Buddhist Monk whom most agree is second only to the Dalai Lama himself in terms of influence. His life is a mind-boggling journey spanning decades of helping people who couldn't help themselves, yet those achievements - when reviewed on paper - seem so expansive as to have seemingly occupied three times his life span! It's simply astonishing how involved in bringing peace to the world he has been. From becoming a monastic at age 16, to helping to pioneer the idea of "Engaged Buddhism", to war relief, to youth services, hospitals, homeless, agricultural and many other areas Thich Nhat Hanh has tirelessly and ceaselessly helped spread love and mindfulness throughout the world, while helping people directly, and still has found time to author several dozen works as broad ranging in topic as his relief work is in scope. Oh, and he founded the Plum Village meditation community in France. Look up any of his talks on YouTube, and his sweet affable nature will endear you to him immediately.
Dr. Lilian W. Y. Cheung, D. Sc., R.D. is a nutritionist on the faculty of the Harvard School of Public Health's Dept. of Nutrition. She's been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh for years and knows more than a thing or two about the obesity crisis facing our country. She's been involved in numerous books, lectures, websites and mass media programs to help confront this problem, and hopefully - one day - put an end to it. She's an amazing thought leader, with her finger on the pulse of one of the nations most serious concerns. As a student (and teacher) of both nutrition AND Buddhism, she is uniquely qualified to bring this message of mindfulness to us from a perspective both spiritual and scientific.
I believe that the message of this book, and it's authors, has everything you need to help you make a change in your life that will be entirely positive and beneficial. Ultimately, you have to be ready and willing to make that change, or it's just so much good information. If you are, as I was, then this book could be the right message at the right time, for you to begin your own journey to a healthier, happier and more mindful life!
What I can not stress to you often enough, or clearly enough, is how utterly SIMPLE this weight loss effort has been for me. It's taken very little of my time, I have not craved things I have cut out, I have become a virtual vegetarian (Megitarian as my friend Alicia put it), have not been hungry - NONE of the usual things that come with diets and workouts. Utterly, amazingly, simple. It's as though, by simply making the decision to be this person, I am. And that's exactly what it is.
Best of luck to you, I literally wish this for you in my moving meditations!
M.S.
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