Self Scrapbooking: Shoes

THE TOPIC | Shoes

THE WRITING PROMPT | What's on your feet? How is what you wear representative of other things in your life? What other story can be told when you look down at your shoes (the places you've been, special shoes for special occasions, etc.)? Consider listing them all out.

Remember, tell me more.

WRITING TIP | Who are you writing to? I often write directly to my kids on my scrapbook layouts. I refer to them as "you" or I use their name "Dear Sweet Anna Girl." As I started writing this prompt I felt like writing to someone versus to myself. The first sentence could have gone a couple ways - "Let me begin by telling you…" or "Let me begin by saying/writing that…" In general I would recommend establishing your audience in the beginning of a project - will all your journaling be to someone else, to yourself, etc. - and then keep that consistent throughout the project. There's no right or wrong and there's nothing wrong with mixing it up here as you practice your writing skills.

THE PHOTO | Looking down at your shoes. Shoes lined up in the closet.

Self Scrapbooking: Technology

THE TOPIC | Technology

THE WRITING PROMPT | Computer/laptop/phone/camera. What's your relationship to technology? How big a part of your life is it? Do you text or call or email? How is your life different because of the presence of technology? Is it all positive or a mixture of good and bad? Can you imagine your life without it?

GO DEEPER | Investigate your history with technology. When did you first use a computer or a cell phone?

Remember, tell me more.

WRITING TIP | When you are choosing what style to use for a prompt, remember that each of these prompts can exist alone or as part of a whole (just like any other story you tell in your scrapbooks or journals). Don't be afraid to experiment with a completely different style - try it on. Sometimes it takes a while for a new style to feel right and sometimes it never will. My writing today is in a list format without any numbers or bullet points - it's a bunch of single sentences about the topic of technology that all begin with the word "I."

Think about how the words look on the page. Are they all together in one paragraph? Are there lots of returns? Today I grouped sentences together that become blocks, essentially shapes on my layout combined with single sentences and a return between each one. How does it feel to read through it that way? How can you use that as a design element?

Self Scrapbooking: Uniform

THE TOPIC | Uniform

THE WRITING PROMPT | The clothes you wear (skip shoes because that's going to be another topic for another day). Do you wear the same thing or the same sorts of things? Are you a minimalist or a maximalist? Do you regularly go through your clothes or do you have a couple different sizes just in case? Is personal style something you care about/take pride in/keep up with (as a part of your identity) or are clothes just something to cover up your body (just there/no big deal)?

WRITING TIP | Remember, we are working on telling authentic stories about our lives without judgments. Be real about what you like and don't like versus writing what you think you should write. Don't pretend you like something or do something or are something that you aren't. Embrace who you are and know that you can always make adjustments or a new choice to begin a change today.

Remember, tell me more.

THE PHOTO | Your closet. A detail of your favorite piece of clothing. A photo of you in your favorite outfit or one that's a good representation of your uniform.

September Dozen Day

Here it is Dozen Day again, the year is almost up.
I hope this has been as helpful to you as it has bee nto me.

Twelve Photos:

1. Today
2. A Teacher
3. A computer that you use frequently
4. Your mail
5. Reading
6. Something golden
7. Something that reminds you of your childhood
8. Something just for fun
9. Crunchy
10. Preparation
11. An Appliance
12. Where you shop

Twelve Page Ideas

1. You:  What do you love to learn about.
2. Holidays:  Are there any holidays specific to your personal faith or believes that you celebrate?
3. Places:  Favorite Fall Places
4. Everyday Life:  Something you are studying, learning, homework,......
5. Rituals:  What you like to do on a Friday or Saturday night
6. People:  Someone that is famous and admired by you.  Why?
7. Inspiration:  Stop on the Candy aisle and purchase a special treat that you can gin inspiration from.
8. Personality:  How do you make a decision?  What is your process?
9. Things:  What was your favorite childhood game or pasttime?
10. Family Stories:  How did you find your job?  Choose your occupation?
11. Seasons:  Favorite Fall Photos from over the years
12. Fun:  Choose  new font and use it in your layout.

Self Scrapbooking: 9:15

THE TOPIC | 9:15am

THE WRITING PROMPT | Where are you? What's happening? Who, what, why, when, how, where? At 9:15 (or as close as you can get to that time), stop what you are doing and look around your environment. Give yourself 5-10 minutes if possible to document what's happening. What are you doing? What's going on around you? Get really specific by jotting down as many details as you can.

Remember, tell me more.

WRITING TIP | Get specific with the details. One of the things I love most when I look back through the stories I've written and the scrapbook pages I've created over the years are the ones that really include specific details of the situation and environment: colors, sounds, feelings, observations - so many of these details are things that I'd love to read about from my parents.

One thing that I found helpful with this prompt was to write down a bunch of basic observations and then go back in and enhance them with even more specific details. The color of your shirt, the actual content of what you're listening too (vs. just "listening to the radio"), the way you take your drink.

THE PHOTO | A clock as it hits 9:15am. Wherever it is that you are at that point in time.

Stages of Change - Article found on Weightwatchers.com

The Stages of Change model, which defines the six stages to making a sustained health-related behavior change, was originally developed to help people quit smoking. Applying the model to single behaviors, like smoking, drinking alcohol or fastening a seat belt, is relatively simple because the focus is limited to one specific behavior. Applying the Stages of Change model to weight loss is not simple, however, because achieving lasting weight loss requires multiple behavior changes in several areas of life, including physical activity and eating.

 

Stages of Change: Exercise
One area that has demonstrated positive results to use of the Stages of Change model is exercise. Tools have been developed to determine a person's stage of readiness and stage-specific guidelines have been established to reach the desired goal of making physical activity a part of daily life.^1,2

 

Stages of Change: Eating Behaviors
The Stages of Change model has also been applied to eating behaviors. This is more difficult because of the complexity that eating involves. Altering usual food portions, changing meal patterns, making different food choices and altering food preparation methods are all distinct food behaviors. Because of this complexity, the results in studies focused on using the model to change eating behaviors have been mixed and are difficult to interpret.³

 

Like all models, the Stages of Change has limitations. Because it is not specifically measurable or defined, it can be difficult to clearly determine what stage a person is in at any given time. Moreover, an absolute linear progression through the stages has not been established.⁴ This is particularly true in the area of weight loss, most likely because of the multiple behaviors involved.

 

For example, in a review of studies looking at eating behaviors, it was determined that it was not possible to predict progression from the preparation stage into the action stage. Because these two stages mark the transition from "getting ready to make a change" to "making a change," the ability to assess the person's status is especially important. ⁵

 

From Change to Commitment
Readiness to change is one aspect of weight loss; staying the course once a weight loss program is started is another. Quitting a weight-loss attempt is common. New techniques are being developed and tested to address this problem.

 

Motivational interviewing is an emerging area of study that has shown some promise. Specifically geared to deal with the natural ambivalence that is part any lifestyle change, motivational interviewing is a method used to enhance motivation and bolster commitment to the change process. ⁶

 

The Stages of Change (also called the transtheoretical model of behavior change) was developed by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente in the mid-1980s. The model is based on a finding that people go through six stages of change on their way to making a sustained health-related behavior change.

 

Stages and Description of the Change Model1 Precontemplation Does not recognize that there is a problem Denies there is a problem Does not see the problem as serious Contemplation Recognizes the need for behavior change Is thinking about the pros and cons of changing the behavior Preparation Experimenting with small pieces of the behavior change Action Making definitive changes in aspects of the behavior Maintenance Maintaining new behavior over time Relapse Full or partial return to previous behaviors,  often accompanied by negative feelings

Matching the Next Step

At the core of the model is the need to determine the person's stage of change and to match the "next step" to get them to the next stage.² For example, a person in the precontemplation stage would be guided to learn about the health consequences of engaging in the desired behavior change with a goal of getting her to think about it (i.e., contemplation) as opposed to providing specific "do this now" instructions, an appropriate guidance for those in the action stage. Such tailored behavior change programs have been shown to increase progression to the action stage.³

 

In addition, research has shown that people are likely to be at different stages of change for different behaviors. One review looked at the stages of change for three different health behaviors: exercise, protection from sun exposure, and smoking cessation. Among studies examined, people were in different stages of change for each behavior and those who progressed through the stages of change were more successful in improving health behaviors.⁴

Back on the Wagon Again

So I restarted Weight Watchers today.  I have gained back 25 pounds since I made my goal weight of 155, almost 2 years ago.  I didn't realize it, just kinda snuck up on me until I saw pictures from the family reunion in July.  As I looked at the photo, I realized how much I had gained and it kinda smacked me in the face. 

Lots of things I want to do in the next year and i would love to be 25 plus pounds lighter.  One of which is going to Hawaii next year. 

the Battle of the bulge begins again. 

Weight Wathcers has been the most successful program for me.  Mostly because I can still eat what I want but just have to have it in the appropriate portion size. And I think that is the biggest issue for me.  portion control.  -  I want what I want, when I want it.

i also enjoy fresh fruits and veggies.  Just need to put that at the front of the fridge and not the back.   Go back to not keeping sweets readily available.  The first 3 weeks is usually the hardest for me.   So we shall see where it leads.