Dr. Randy Pausch’s last lecture: A lesson in living

I just saw the most moving video on Oprah. It features a middle-aged professor at Carnegie Mellon University who is dying of pancreatic cancer.  He is married and has 3 young children.  He delivered his “last lecture” to a packed auditorium last September, and gave the presentation again on Oprah’s stage today. 

This video is utterly moving, and really forces you think about how you would live your life if you knew you were dying.  (Truth is, we’re all dying, we just don’t know how or when.)

Upcoming workshop: Playtime for the Soul

Would you like to enjoy the many the benefits of laughter and play? Do you need a break from the seriousness of daily life?

Then come play and laugh with us at the complimentary launch of the Playtime for the Soul (c) Workshop on June 28, 2008 (Downtown) or July 12, 2008 (West Island).

To register for this one-time offer, please contact Savanna Denise, Wellness Coach and Certified Laughter Leader, at 514-677-8112 or . Register now - spaces are limited!

For more information, please visit http://www.julia-dinardo.com/index.php/site/playtimeworkshop/

Is laughter really the best medicine?

Experts Take the Benefits of Laughter Seriously

• Laughter decreases the amount of stress hormones in the body and increases the activity of natural killer cells that go after tumour cells.

By finding a way to laugh more, the natural chemicals in your brain that regulate mood will help even out your emotions, thus boosting your resistance to overeating on a physiological level too.

Try organizing a social event that centres on humour. Visit a local comedy club, go see a funny movie, or host a game night featuring fun board games like “Cranium” or “Twister.” Not only will this be good for you, but you can pass on the benefits to the people you care about, strengthening bonds and breaking the usual monotony of dinner and drinks.

Treat the water, not the fish

I came across a quote today in one of the ezines I subscribe to.

“...when you have a pet fish that’s sick, you treat the water—NOT the fish.”

-Artemis Limpert

This really struck a chord with me because so often when there’s a problem, we tend to try to fix ourselves, rather than take a look at what could be changed in our environment.  This is especially true for people to struggle with their weight - “if I’m fat, it must be my fault.” So you try to diet, fix your bad attitude, force yourself to exercise, etc., etc.  And when it doesn’t work, who gets the blame?  You do, of course.

What about trying to see what’s not working in your environment? Maybe your job is really stressful, which leads to to overeat even when you’re not hungry.  Reduce your stress level and watch your cravings diminish.  If you tend to pig out in front of the TV at night, stop buying junk food.  I don’t keep it in the house because if it’s there, I’ll eat it.  How often will you actually leave the house to go and get a bag of chips just because you feel like snacking?

Another part of your environment you might want to think about is the amount of support in your life. Make those around you aware of your efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle, so that they can support you as you make small changes.  And when things don’t go perfectly, they can be there for you to encourage you to keep going.  They’re not always going to know what you need, so you need to ask.  Other forms of support can include fitness groups, online support groups, or professional support in the form of a personal trainer, nutritionist, wellness coach, or therapist.

Also be aware of what your emotional, mental and spiritual environment looks like. If you live with a lot of negativity, whether from those around you or from yourself (those inner critics never stop, do they?), try to include more positive influences in your life.  These can include reading inspirational books or articles, starting a gratitude journal, listening to motivational audio books or music that relaxes you, or meditating.

Remember, if you treat the water, the fish WILL get better.

How to correctly weigh yourself

Just thought I’d post something kinda funny for the weekend.  Sometimes it helps not to take things so seriously all the time!

The Story of Stuff

In honour of Earth Day, I’d like to post a link to an excellent documentary called ”The Story of Stuff.” I think the title is pretty self explanatory.  I’ve talked several times on this blog about how we often use “stuff” to fill the need for something more in our lives.  This documentary shows us the real price of collecting all that stuff.  Pretty powerful stuff (pun intended).

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Hey, where’d my craving go?

Although I wasn’t much impressed by last week’s episode of “I Can Make You Thin,” this week’s episode was much better. Paul McKenna taught a technique that can be used whenever an intense craving hits.  Although I can’t speak for the scientific merit of this technique, nor do whether its effectiveness has been studied, it definitely makes a lot more sense than tapping random spots on your body.

The technique basically consists of “spoiling” the object of your craving (chocolate, chips, pizza, etc.) by imagining it covered in something absolutely disgusting (maggots, worms, insects, mold, vomit, poop, whatever it takes!). Studies have shown that our cravings are powerfully driven by mental images - think of a time you passed by an advertising for one of your favourite foods.  That image probably stayed in your mind all day, creating a craving that wouldn’t go away until you satisfied it.  It seems that it’s actually the image of the food that is the basis for the craving, whether we are aware that we are picturing it or not.  If vividly imagining the food, smells, taste, texture and all, can fuel the urge to eat it, then it stands to reason that “spoiling” it with something equally horrible can create an aversion for that same food.

Here’s how it works: with the thumb and middle finger of your left hand pressed together, take a few minutes to conjure up an image of something you absolutely despise (e.g., liver, anchovies, cow brains).  If there’s nothing you won’t eat, then go into the non-food realm: vomit, diarrhea, mashed up insects, etc.  Imagine it with as much vivid detail as possible, including the way it smells.  You need to be completely and utterly disgusted, to the point of nausea.  Now imagine the food you’re currently craving being mixed in.  Oh, and sprinkle some barbershop hair and spit on top.  Mmmmm.... yummy.  Now go ahead and take a bite… go on, taste it.  Imagine the way it would taste and feel in your mouth.  You might actually start gagging at this point; that’s a good thing.  Keep pressing your left thumb and middle finger together - and hold the thought as long as you can. 

The idea is to create an association between your finger position and the feeling of disgust. Practice this exercise often to maximize the power of the technique.  The next time a craving hits, you can press your fingers together to draw out the feeling of disgust.  Use your imagination if necessary.  The beauty of this technique is that it can be used anywhere, anytime.  I tried it last night as I was watching the show, and good lord, I had no idea I could imagine such horribly disgusting things - I actually felt nauseous at the thought of any food, never mind yummy food, after I was through.  I’m definitely going to be giving it a try this week - I’ll let you know how it goes. 

What about the right hand, you ask? Good question.  The same power of imagery can be used to summon powerfully positive feelings.  Press the middle finger and thumb of the right hand together and think back to a time you felt incredibly good - falling in love, winning an award, being at total peace with the world.  Anything that has a significant meaning for you.  Imagine that time in as much vivid detail as possible.  Continue pressing your fingers together, and practice as much as you can.  You can press the fingers of the right hand together any time you need a mood boost: when you’re tired and cranky, when you need some motivation to go for a workout, or whenever you’re feeling emotional and fighting the urge to eat some comfort food. 

If anybody tries this out, I’d love to hear back from you. You can leave me a comment at the end of this post - I’m curious to see if it works for anyone.  Good luck!