What is healthy eating?

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Posted on 28th January 2012 by Julie Poplawski in envision ideal body |Fill Your Cup diet |Fill Your Cup Lifestyle |how to fill your cup |longevity diet plan |staying in the cup |weight loss

Fill Your Cup, the weight loss book and philosophy that this site is dedicated to, is foremost about portion control. Many of you have heard me say, “I’m not teaching healthy it’s too broad a topic. I only teach thin.” It turns out – being thinner is healthier so indirectly, I teach healthy. My goal and challenge is to teach students to learn to manage their own hunger and become more aware of their appetite.

I’m thinking about posting some healthy recipes in the upcoming weeks, so I’m curious… what do you think eating healthy really is about? It can mean different things to different people based on family history, experience and personal appetite. Please write in the comments below what you think eating healthy is.

When you feel healthiest, how do you Fill Your Cup?

Volition, the Britannica dictionary says, “is the power of choosing or determining.”

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Posted on 19th January 2012 by Julie Poplawski in envision ideal body |Fill Your Cup Lifestyle |how to fill your cup |inside out approach

When you can really understand Volition, when you get it that you have the power to choose there’s a sense of peace. When you fully come to grips with the fact that it’s you that you have in charge of your personal team, that it’s you that charts your course and executes your life, and ultimately it’s only you that you have to blame or celebrate for the results. Well then your whole life makes a lot more sense and the opportunities open up.

Because it’s not that grumpy husband/wife/partner’s fault, whew ok he/she won’t hold me back. It’s not the job stress that makes you eat poorly, really oh ok? It’s not your horrible genetics from your chubby polish grandmother that makes you fat, what a relief, there’s hope after all! It’s your choices for eating and moving that make the shape of your body.

Most of you who read this blog are fully formed adults and you get to make most of your own choices about food. Occasionally, there is a meal that it served that you have to eat (a portion of) out of politeness to the chef, I suppose. Generally speaking as an adult you order, cook or in some way choose the foods that you eat. With those choices you also chose your own jeans’ size. (Well at least the width)

No one can eat or exercise for you. You make those choices out of your own volition. The peace comes from accepting that you made it so, and you can change it — if you want the change enough. Fill Your Cup.

9 habits for taking care of yourself

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Posted on 10th January 2012 by Julie Poplawski in Divorce Diet |Fill Your Cup diet |Fill Your Cup Lifestyle |how to fill your cup |inside out approach |mind-body diet |staying in the cup |weight loss

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It’s hard to eat lighter if you aren’t well cared for. But…. you protest, how can I do one more thing with my schedule? Or what does THAT mean, I take care of myself, I think!? What I mean by care for is care for yourself like you would for someone younger, weaker, sadder, or older than you are. When you do, you’ll have a really good day, almost like magic! On a day that I feel my best – self nurtured – most grounded I’ve generally included these ingredients:

1. Meditate: I get up 10 min early, have a glass of water brush my teeth (this means I’m really up not just lying in bed snoozing the alarm) and sit with a quiet mind, or just appreciate the upcoming day, or go for a brief walk with no agenda (or a simple one) in my mind.

2. Exercise: whether I have exercise in the calendar in the morning or the evening I need to know at some point – I am going to move. I’m going after gross motor exhaustion or nearly that!

3. Light breakfast: It feels nourishing but not filling. For me it is 1 simple protein source (an egg or a few nuts) and usually a honey latte.

4. Notice my job like I’m selling it to someone else: for example I get to address interesting and sometimes complex problems with people who care. Every person who comes to see me is happy and motivated to be with me and by the time they leave they feel better because of our time together! It’s worth working hard for.

5. Cherish the people: I kiss my children even though they are old enough to object and remind them every day that I’m glad they are in my life. And that sentiment goes for parents, spouse/special person, friends and neighbors, whomever I sincerely love.

6. Time for my home: make space a finite time (30 min?) to tidy the house, move the laundry along, do a simple chore or 2 to invest in my space but do not get consumed by it.

7. Feed myself lunch and dinner thoughtfully: whether I go out or stay in for my “cups” each day, I decide what I’m hungry for. I choose those ingredients in what I order or prepare. I take the supplements I think I need, a multivitamin vitamin B, C, calcium, melatonin and fish oil are in my recipe since I am now middle aged. (I typed and erased and retyped that term twice but it’s true – I’ll leave it.)

8. Self care: After the work the exercise the giving to all the people the eating well just take time to have a bath or shower or use a nice lotion or condition your hair. Make time to be with your own skin.

9. Read or meditate or hold someone close to finish the day. Get quiet before you crash into your pillow. Enough said.

Your specifics for nurturing yourself may be different than mine, that’s good, take time to identify exactly what habits nurture you and do a little of each of those, and you WILL have a good day!

What nurtures you? What fills your cup?

New Year’s Lifestyle Re-set!

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Posted on 2nd January 2012 by Julie Poplawski in Fill Your Cup Lifestyle |how to fill your cup |inside out approach |mind-body diet |weight loss

When your daily high points are external, for example. “What‘s for dinner? What can I buy for the house, kids, my closet? When shall I pour my next glass of wine, cocktail etc? It is unsettling and it’s time to look inward.

When (as the holidays inspire) you find yourself over-eating, over-shopping, over drinking. Take some time to feel your own heartbeat and come into balance. Here’s what works for me:

http://vimeo.com/15175542

I have a new weight-loss group at the Village on Camelback so I’ll be writing more often. Check back in to the blog weekly, or sign up for updates. Dig deeper in 2012! Be your brightest self!!

Science is the knowledge of consequences, and dependence of one fact upon another. ~ Thomas Hobbes

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Posted on 7th November 2011 by Julie Poplawski in Fill Your Cup diet |Fill Your Cup Lifestyle |how to fill your cup |inside out approach |mind-body diet |staying in the cup |weight loss

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We generally trust science. We believe in testing, proving, and reporting the facts. Are your facts the same as my facts? Are our consequences the same? Always?

When you’re willing to grow up with eating and own your own metabolism, you start to experience and test one fact at a time. For example: How does chocolate cake as a meal in my cup really work? Aaah yes, note the consequences. In my body some choices feel good for hours and others only feel good for moments. As we practice limited portions, doesn’t it make sense that we choose portions that we feel are sustaining?

Sometimes what we are told is right for us “chocolate cake for breakfast will leave you less satisfied than oatmeal” is indeed right. That chocolate cake/oatmeal comparison happens to be true for me. And sometimes what we are told is not true for us, “Only eat food with out a face.” When I practice vegetarianism I feel (morally superior since I’m saving the planet but…) anemic and exhausted. At this stage in my life while I’m chasing 3 young boys and have a physical job teaching Pilates/Indoor cycling, that “fact” isn’t true for me. It may be perfectly true for you.

Know your body, your choices their consequences and your cup. Can you scientifically test your own facts upon one another? Fill Your Cup.

Consumption

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Posted on 3rd November 2011 by Julie Poplawski in Fill Your Cup diet |Fill Your Cup Lifestyle |inside out approach |mind-body diet |TWITTER DIET |weight loss

So eating less is hard. Consuming fewer calories (thereby having a body that moves well, looks healthy and feels good to you) is just too difficult? Right? Let’s take 2 min and examine what consumes your day. Are you full of anticipation, meetings, accomplishments, responsibility, uncertainty, are you working a list, one that you designed so that you can be the best you can be?

Sometimes we use food to loosen up our schedule to relieve us of our responsible, restricted, grown up life. Some days eating is the only point in a day with any creative choice or exploration (But do we consciously agglomerate Blue Cheese, Thousand Island or Ranch with a creative choice and exploration? not really.) Don’t get me wrong I think there is blessed creativity in eating. I believe some of my best meditations happen tasting over the stove. I love exploring exotic flavors from a restaurant menu but those aren’t the over-eating meals. The day to day, over indulging is what packs the weight on. The meals when you’re frantically racing through the grocery store, and you buy things that you know you’ll consume hedonistically because your mind says, “I’ve had a hectic day so, I deserve it” or you order more than you should out at a dinner meeting because it’s 7pm and you’ve been working 12 hours already and your mind says “shouldn’t I be allowed a little fun?”

Is mealtime the only time in our day for free will? If lunch or dinner are the only down time/being time/breathing time/me-time is it any wonder that we want to consume everything around that time excessively?

A lake side inspiration

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Posted on 26th September 2011 by Julie Poplawski in envision ideal body |inside out approach |mind-body diet |weight loss

Aahh, I love the Mountains and love them twice as they are reflected into a deep, dark, still lake. You can see them nearly as clearly as in real life. In the stillness you see the trees’ height, density of the forest, the depth of the rocks and the magnitude of the mountain’s grand form until the wind blows, or until a boat wake disturbs the view.

If we look for our own self image in the reflection of another we run into similar problems. If we take the role of the mountain no matter how calm and deep and still our lake friends may be, as soon as their own experience shifts and like the lake, they are asked to absorb winds and chop, our view is blurred. It is critical that we can see ourselves clearly in life. With out a reflection or someone else’s feedback are we still the mountain? Are we still each rock we’ve erupted, each tree we’ve birthed? Of course we are.

Who do you see when you look at yourself when there is no reflection?

Building / Being a Superhero!!

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Posted on 7th September 2011 by Julie Poplawski in Divorce Diet |Fill Your Cup diet |Fill Your Cup Lifestyle |mind-body diet |weight loss |Weight loss retreat

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How do you love and support someone well enough that they can be their best and brightest self all the time? As a mother of three boys I learned early on (by trial and miserable error) the trifecta for a winning day with little boys is gross motor exhaustion, steady caloric intake, and sleep. When I have my children (I am recently divorced) I work hard to keep their little bodies in balance because with balance, they are in their best nature, pleasurable to be around and not nearly as hard on the drywall. I remind my guys: “Your energy is fantastic make it healthy, run, climb swim and avoid tearing your brother’s arms off!” or “Your words are clever and organized don’t use them to hurt his feelings.” In a general sense, “use your powers for good, super kid!!”

How do you love and support your self enough to be your best and brightest all the time? What is your personal matrix of well-being? How well do you find balance? What is your formula for bliss amidst the entropy of daily life? I asked all those notes of a dear friend since he doesn’t blog here are his comments:

My thoughts are somewhat mathematical in nature. It takes three points to define a plane. For your boys, they are food, sleep and exercise. When one point is moved for one boy, the planes are no longer in alignment and become askew. This leads to lots of interesting intersections, some of which are constructive, some not, some of which are positive, some not. The interesting thing is that the whole plane and it’s intersections change based on the movement of one point. This lends credibility to your argument about life balance, where the three points may be parental, personal, and professional. Get one point out of whack, and the whole plane orientation shifts.

What are your three primary needs? What are your points for balance? sleep, work, exercise, or eating, moving, thinking, or loving, resting, producing. What key points make up your perfect average day, not holiday, but daily life day?

Life Lessons from Pilates: Be diagnostic not judgmental. (Sometimes the difference is merely tone of voice.)

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Posted on 19th August 2011 by Julie Poplawski in Divorce Diet |Fill Your Cup diet |Fill Your Cup Lifestyle |how to fill your cup |inside out approach |mind-body diet |weight loss

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When you are conscious of your self or do you diagnosis with a clear view or do you interpret you own actions with moral difference? Do you give yourself a thumbs up or a thumbs down or can you just notice where you are today?

In a roll up we que students to differentiate their vertebrae bone-by-bone. In becoming aware of the bones we strengthen the deep core muscles that align the spine. In your roll up if one spinal segment just won’t move, you may notice tightness and maybe soreness in that spot. As you take note what dialogue begins in your mind? Do you say to yourself “Oh, no that’s because I haven’t been coming to class, I’m so bad at this, I never stick to things, pilates is so hard, why cant I just…” Or do you just observe it? “Hmm, that bit is tighter. OK little breath, more support, and greater attention into my body.” If the voice in your head isn’t that verbal and it simply asks “what is that?” Notice your own tone, Are you judging like, “What is THAT?” or inquiring thoughtfully “what IS that?”

With your diet can you interpret without criticism? For example: My cup was more like 4 handfuls and I left that lunch appointment feeling stuffed. Does your mind disapprove harshly? “How come I can’t stick to anything? Why did they have to order an appetizer?” or can you cut the commentary and be constructive? “Ok that was too much. How can I give myself more space in my body? Maybe I’ll eat less or no dinner, or go for a long walk tonight before bed”

Try it. With out the negative vibe of your own judgment hanging over you -you may have more energy for happiness, bliss and all the goodness you really deserve! Fill Your Cup.

Come to Truth

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Posted on 11th August 2011 by Julie Poplawski in Divorce Diet |Fill Your Cup diet |Fill Your Cup Lifestyle |mind-body diet |weight loss

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“Coming into truth is a matter of subtraction not addition” Adyashanti (a Buddhist who transitioned to enlightenment.)

My friend sent me this quote over a year ago and it resonates today. With out negative influences, our lives feel lighter, brighter, and happier. I am not suggesting burying your head in the sand when negativity arises but face it and find a solution. Extract the darkness in a clear concise way.

Subtraction takes away what isn’t essential. After your clearing is complete, what you’re left with is your essence, out in the open, loud and clear. With your essence unobstructed, you can appreciate what you really value and who you really are.

Feel like cleaning the pantry? Or better …. Your thoughts?

Fill Your Cup

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