Now that you know about the horse and serotonin, we can talk about weight control.

I live in the non-suffering section, and I invite you to live here too. Living in the non-suffering section doesn't mean life is always easy, but it does mean that when it is challenging it isn't meaningless. Dragging the horse away from the foods you love is meaningless suffering, and it doesn't get easier. Training the horse to love rewards that truly nurture you takes time and effort. It is dynamic. It is powerful. And when it's done. It's done for life.

We've already gone over some of the keys. Exercise is the biggest and best. It burns calories and fat directly, then it raises your metabolism so that you burn more calories all day. It releases endorphins so you feel good. It increases your stamina.

Your body was designed (a few million years ago) to eat when food was available and to hold on to the calories when it wasn't. This is why when you eat less you get lazier. You can't exercise without burning calories, like your car can't run without fuel. So when you want to lose weight, you need both fewer calories and more exercise, and neither will come naturally. Your horse will fight you on this, but with commitment and support you can retrain it. Just helps to know what you're up against. If you're serious, get a friend to commit to exercise with you.

I know you shouldn't have to go to this much trouble. I wish you didn't. But look around you--almost nobody succeeds in losing weight and keeping it off. It requires effort, but if you're willing to make the effort you can succeed, and you won't regret it.

The second key is another I wrote about before: Live passionately. Buy the most beautiful pear in the store, the rosiest Gala apple. Give yourself the gift of the best food on the menu. Eat 3 ounces of tenderloin instead of 8 ounces of hamburger. If you passionately want dessert, eat it slowly, savor each bite, then stop when you don't passionately want the rest. Acknowledge yourself for throwing it away. It will hurt the garbage disposal a lot less than it would hurt you to eat it.

Key three--pump that serotonin. This moment counts. Your friends won't notice one healthy choice, but if you acknowledge yourself for it, it can make you feel good all day. The fatty food (I call it slimy, that takes away a lot of the appeal already) will taste good for moments. Here's the choice: Feel good for a few moments, and regret those calories the rest of the day, or spend those moments acknowledging yourself for making the healthy choice and then feel good for the rest of the day.

We all heard "This cookie will make you feel better." We all were comforted with ice cream. It's time we learned that it was the Mom not the cookie that comforted us. Comfort yourself with friends, soft textures, beautiful memories, warm baths, SLERTT (sex, laughter, exercise, relaxation, talking, and touching). If you're overweight, food has been both your comforter and your abuser. Living in the non-suffering section means gently comforting yourself while you reject that abuser.

--- (c) Jeneene L. Brengelman

Questions?

If you're interested in the Quit Kit which includes a tape, book, and toys at the rock-bottom PNN price of $15 plus $3 shipping, e-mail me for ordering information.

"On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined"

--- (c) Byron