Path of Slim Sanity, Part 1

Part of the view from my chair

I'm currently reading Women, Food, & God by Geneen Roth.  After seeing Geneen's recent appearance on Oprah, I have become filled with the hope of being completely free of the swing of the weight pendulum.  Take Geneen's concepts, add in feng shui for slimness -- that's a recipe for a life of sanity around food.  Yay!

I've only read about 3 chapters, so far, and already I am feeling more sanity around food.

I have to laugh at myself, though. 

• I just very carefully selected what I was hungry for breakfast-wise. (Geneen) 
• I placed a medium-sized portion on a pretty plate the size of which made the portion feel ample. (feng shui).  
• I chose my favorite cutlery.  (feng shui) 
• Found a throw to wrap around my legs; it's a little chilly for alfresco dining here in Lake Oswego, OR this morning.  (feng shui)
• I settled down in a comfy chair on my lovely patio to have breakfast with the garden, birds, and squirrels.  (Geneen & feng shui)

My  Patio

And then managed to eat it all barely noticing how delicious it was, barely noticed the garden, the birds, or the squirrels, my mind was so busy. (Not Geneen, Not feng shui)

Personally, I find that hilarious.  Also, insightful.  It's good to know that however careful the preparation may be, one must continue to be careful to Stay Present with Every Morsel.

I imagine, I dream, the days will come when staying present with food will be more the norm, a healthy habit.  Currently, though, I'm choosing to be amused by this Lesson in Absence.

How about you?

An Appeteaser is an Appetite Appeaser!

An appeteaser is a tiny, scrumptious treat that you eat before you begin to prepare a meal. It satisfies your initial hunger pangs and gives you the energy and willingness to make healthy, slim meals.

My personal favorite is five multigrain thin crackers with a healthy dab of my Gorgonzola Spread on each. Since I savor each cracker as a scrumptious treat, it is easy to stop at five crackers.

Kathleen's Gorgonzola Spread
12 oz Soft Spreadable Light Cream Cheese
2 oz Gorgonzola Cheese
.5 teaspoon Water

Add the Water to the Cream Cheese to make it more spreadable. Freshly crumble the Gorgonzola into the Cream Cheese. Hand stir with a fork. When well blended, either return it to the plastic container or put the spread in a decorative serving bowl. Cover and store it in the refrigerator 24 hours before serving.

It may seem too luscious for a slim program. Frankly, such small treats make adhering to my program possible.

A healthier appeteaser, like grapes for example, doesn't seem to have the same braking mechanism. I tend to much more than one serving of grapes.

The more scrumptious the treat, the easier it is to keep it tiny.

It also helps to serve your appeteaser on a small plate, so it looks full. The more formal the presentation, the more you savor the scrumptious treat.

This appeteaser ritual feels sumptuous while it gives me the energy to then make yummy, healthy, slim meals. Frankly, without an appeteaser, I may snack a tad too much and never make a real meal. That is a recipe for derailment if ever I heard one.

Appeteasers appease your appetite and allow you to regain your stamina by restoring your blood-sugar balance. This makes it possible to be ready, willing, and able to create, slim, delicious meals.

Bon Appetit!

Excerpt from Slim House Slim Body. Get yours now!

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Tumpane. All rights reserved.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

You can, as long as you include the copyright and this blurb with it:

Feng Shui Designer, Teacher, and Coach, Kathleen Tumpane ASID, is the author of Slim House Slim Body; How to use Intentional Design to become and be slim. Visit her Slim Blog at http://www.slimhouseslimbody.blogspot.com for articles, tips, and news of teleclasses.

Take a Slim Shower!

Can you guess what a Slim Shower is?

Nope, not a party like a Bridal Shower or a Baby Shower.

Nope, not a lighter than misting rain.

It is a shower with powerful, uplifting, and joyful intentions!

Here's how you take a Slim Shower:

Dim the lights in your bathroom, if you can. Personally, I just let available light leak into the bath from another room and close the window coverings so it is delightfully dim.

You can light a candle, if you're in the mood. Make the candle a slender one and white for purity.

Get in the shower.
Stand very tall -- you're already looking and feeling 5# lighter!
Get your washcloth soapy.
Close your eyes.
You read correctly.
Close your eyes -- you know where your body is!
Caress your body with the washcloth; keep your hands off!! This blurs your perception of your body.
As you stroke your arm, picture it the slim arm you desire it to be.
If you like, say aloud, "I love my slim arms."
As you wash your leg, imagine it is the firm, strong, beautiful leg you desire.
Say, aloud or silently, "I love my slim, strong legs."
And so on.

As you rinse, say, "I am slim, fit, and sexy."

Dry yourself with your eyes closed, too!

Shower yourself with love and slim intentions to love yourself well each day!

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Tumpane. All rights reserved.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

You can, as long as you include the copyright and this blurb with it:

Feng Shui Designer, Teacher, and Coach, Kathleen Tumpane ASID, is the author of Slim House Slim Body; How to use Intentional Design to become and be slim. Visit her Slim Blog at http://www.slimhouseslimbody.blogspot.com for articles, tips, and news of teleclasses.