I’d like to start this month’s issue with one word – Duh! Sorry, couldn’t resist. There have been several articles recently about studies that found that diets don’t work. Well, all they had to do was ask me, but no one bothered. I am glad to see that this is making headlines in the mainstream media. In case you missed it, here’s a link to one of the articles: Diet Failures.
It’s been a busy month! I am very excited to announce that my first Am I Hungry? Group teleworkshop is ready to go! It will start on Tuesday, June 19th and run for 8 weeks. Don’t worry if you aren’t in my area, anyone who has a phone can participate. I’ve included some brief information here in the newsletter and you can get full details plus a very special offer that may not last much longer at BreakOutOfDietPrison.com.
On May 12th, I had the pleasure of attending a professional workshop given by the authors and pioneers of Intuitive Eating, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. How exciting! There were lots of people in attendance, which just shows that the non-diet movement is gaining ground – let’s keep spreading the word. I’ve included a picture and some tips I picked up from the workshop.
Finally, last Saturday I had a great time presenting at the OIVAC (Virtual Assistants) conference. It was conducted completely online in conference rooms. I presented “Grow Your Business, Not Your Waistline” which is one of my favorite topics. I also had a virtual “booth” with lots of goodies. You can check it out and all the information I provided at no charge here: OIVAC. Feel free to download anything that you feel will be helpful
I’m off to Nashville on June 4th for the Country Music Association Festival! I hope you have a good month and I also hope to “see” you in my “Am I Hungry?” class on the 19th!
Until next month...
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As I mentioned above, I attended the Intuitive Eating for Professionals workshop in Los Angeles on May 12th. Here I am on the left, followed by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD, Elyse Resch, MS, RD, and fellow coach Heather Moreno. Here are a few interesting tidbits:
- There is a section of the brain called the Amygdala. It deals with fear. When you are consumed with fear, it “hijacks” the cortex, which keeps you from being able to think on a more logical level
- In two recent studies, it was found that those who eat intuitively have a lower body mass index, higher level of wellbeing, higher HDL (“good”) cholesterol, lower triglycerides, higher self-esteem and a lower level of thin idealization. That’s incredible!
- In a study by Traci Mann, et al., in 2007, 31 long term studies on diets were analyzed and it was found that two-thirds of the subjects regained more weight than they had lost, and that dieting is a consistent predictor of weight gain.
- If you are stuck in the mentality that you shouldn’t throw food away (starving children in China, or whatever), here’s something to try. Buy some type of inexpensive food that you really like. Eat enough to be satisfied and throw the rest away! Suggestions included a double scoop ice cream cone, a bag of candy or a bag of cookies.
- Here’s one I can attest to personally: kids with strict parents have five times the chance of being overweight in the first grade. I wasn’t overweight in the first grade, but the characteristics of strict parenting they shared are very familiar to me, and my weight gain began in the 7th grade. My battle didn’t end until my 30’s when I learned about Intuitive Eating.
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If you are plagued with knee problems, you may find not find the lunge exercise a pleasant experience. Having had knee pain for many years, I found the backward lunge to feel much better. It is still a challenge, targeting those quad muscles and great for balance, but less stress on the knee joint. Of course, always check with your healthcare professional to make sure this exercise is appropriate for you.
- Stand: erect with a neutral spine and feet shoulder-width apart.
- Action: Take a long step backward landing on the ball of the foot and bend the rear knee to a fencer's lunge position; lower to approximately 90 degrees (or less if necessary) of knee flexion. Pause, then return to the starting position. Maintain neutral spine throughout the movement. Repeat with the other leg.
Common errors in executing the backward lunge include dropping the head and shoulders forward. To correct for this, keep the chest lifted over the top of the hips and look straight ahead with neck in neutral position. Another common error includes lowering beyond 90 degrees of flexion. To correct for this, lower the body and stop before the upper leg becomes parallel with the floor. Another common error includes forward trunk lean with heel lift of lead leg. To correct for this, keep the weight over the back portion of the foot rather than the toes; raise the arms to shoulder height to counterbalance.
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May 2007
Would you like to learn how to eat whatever you want and still lose weight – without dieting?
Then I'd love for you to join me for an exciting new workshop called Am I Hungry? starting Tuesday, June 19.
In just 8 weeks, you will learn surprisingly easy techniques to help you take charge of your weight for life. You will:
- Rediscover the secret to eating what you want when you want
- Stop obsessing about food, eating, and your weight
- Free yourself to live the happy, healthy life you deserve
- Experience the pleasure of eating foods you love without guilt
- Learn the truth about nutrition without confusing, arbitrary rules
- Never again exercise to earn food or punish yourself for eating
- Boost your metabolism effortlessly and naturally
- Increase your energy and fitness levels easily and painlessly
- Nourish your body, mind, and spirit so you can enjoy excellent health and abundant energy
And if you're one of the first five people to sign up, you'll get two fr*e coaching sessions with me! (Just type CHOCOLATE into the comments box when you register.) Hurry, three of these have already been claimed.
So sign up today – and learn everything you need to know to become an Intuitive Eater– the kind of person who can eat what she wants and not gain weight.
I promise, the way you look at food, eating, and your body will never be the same again!
Just go to the Break Out of Diet Prison page to learn more or to sign up.
Don't miss out! There are only 9 seats available, so reserve your spot today. And remember, the next 2 people to sign up get two fr*e coaching sessions. Just type CHOCOLATE in the comments box on the registration page to take advantage of this valuable opportunity.
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If you have your own business, you know that client relationships are essential to your success. One of my Virtual Assistants, Donna Toothaker, wrote a great article on this subject and I have asked her to share it with my readers. Enjoy!
5 Steps to Ideal Client Relationships
by Donna Toothaker
I am fortunate to have truly terrific clients. They are great to work with -- I honestly couldn’t ask for better. However, it wasn’t always like this. When I started my Virtual Assistant business, I had clients who gave me an upset stomach, didn’t pay me, and gave me emergency projects on MY time. I found myself feeling “beaten-up”, frustrated, and resentful much of the time -- wishing I had followed that “gut feeling” I had when I took these difficult clients in the first place.
It was through these experiences that I began to empower myself to find ideal clients. I learned to discern the types of individuals who were a good fit for me, to clearly define and communicate my boundaries, and to take charge of how I wanted to run my business. Soon, I began to attract clients whose personalities meshed with mine, who respected my time and appreciated my work.
There are 5 main steps to finding ideal clients and fostering these relationships.
- Let go of fear. Once I became unhappy with some of my clients, it didn’t take long for me to realize that the only thing that kept me hanging on to them was fear. I was afraid that by giving up a client, I would be putting myself at risk for financial disaster. I was afraid of transitioning -- entering the unknown -- uncertain that I could fill the vacant space on my client roster. Once I let go of the fear, and started letting go of clients who weren't ideal - I began to attract clients that were a great fit.
- Truly utilize the initial consultation. Get to know your potential client by asking the right questions. Listen to the client, and ask questions that will be helpful in determining whether a potential client is a good fit. You might ask: What qualities are you looking for in a professional service provider? Are you a very “hands on” person, or are you comfortable letting me run with a project or a new idea? How do you spend downtime? Do you have a systematic work style, or do you need an organizer? Take the time to assess whether the answers to your questions fit within your definition of an ideal client.
Trust your intuition. Do you feel excited about the possibility of working with this person? Do you feel nervous? Do you like this person? Be selective as you take on new clients – don’t just take someone on for the money, even if you think you need to. Landing the right client is a great investment. She or he will not only be a pleasure to work with, but may even become a referral source to other like-minded clients. The right client will be an easy fit.
- Be clear about your business standards. Let the potential client know about your business boundaries and standards from the start, and stick to them. Communicate to your client what your general time-frame is for returning calls and responding to e-mails. Be especially clear about how you handle last-minute client emergencies. If you can’t, or don’t wish to respond to eleventh-hour pleadings for help, don’t take on a client who you sense could be a procrastinator.
Ask your clients to respect your free time. Stick to set working hours, and try not to deviate unless it is absolutely necessary – especially if you work at home. Otherwise, that computer in the corner will beckon in the middle of dinner, or family time, or 2 am. It’s too easy to let an at-home business become a 24-hour job. It’s not healthy for you, or for your client relationships.
- Show appreciation and build personal relationships. Once you've attracted your new ideal client, tell them you appreciate them, often. Remember holidays and birthdays. Send thank you notes for their continued business and referrals. Have sincere personal interest in them and their families, their goals, and interests.
- Encourage use of additional services. Build your business and increase your time working with your ideal clients by encouraging your clients to use your full array of services. This way, you keep your client roster comfortable, but increase your hours and income. It costs less for you to retain an ideal client than to scurry to find new ones. Your clients benefit by having more tasks and services put into hands that have already proven to be capable and trustworthy. The trust and working relationship is already there – build on it.
These simple steps have helped me to create a thriving, successful practice beyond my dreams. However, with even the most promising client, you might occasionally find it isn't working. Remember that it's okay if you have to let a client go. This is why we have our own businesses -- to have the power choose who we work with. Chances are, if it’s not working out for you, it may also not be working for your client. Approach your client with honesty and tact. Believe that there are ideal clients looking for you, and that this temporary loss will open new opportunities for you.
Donna Toothaker is an expert Virtual Assistant and founder of 1stVA.com. Donna’s company specializes in providing administrative and online marketing support and services to Professional Speakers and Life and Business Coaches. For more information, and to sign up for KeyNotes, the popular monthly newsletter for Speakers and Coaches, visit 1stVA.com.
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