In This Issue:
Giving thanks…sabotage…healthy meals

Welcome!

Brilliance has struck! Did you know that Thanksgiving is actually just another day? It is one of 365 days in the year. There is nothing official that states that Thanksgiving is for overeating. It's for Giving Thanks. (Thanksgiving…giving thanks, see?) That means it is a day for treating our bodies, minds and spirits with the same respect and care as we do all the other days of the year! (Remember: One day at a time, including holidays!) The most important thing about Thanksgiving is having love and gratitude in our hearts, expressing love and gratitude for family and loved ones, and having a big heart for those less fortunate than us. I often tell people "it's not about the food", and as for Thanksgiving, it's definitely NOT ABOUT THE FOOD! Giving thanks means just that. Try giving thanks not only for the blessings in your life, but directly to the people who are blessings in your life. It's amazing how connected we feel to others when we acknowledge them and the positive ways they contribute to our lives. Helping others feel appreciated and loved will make the holidays a much happier experience. We are all seeking connection. Real connection is far better than the false connection we seek through overeating. It's less familiar, of course, but it tastes, feels and looks much better!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, Tricia

Dear Ask it:

I have been doing my best to treat myself with care over the past several months. I have noticed, however, that a few of my friends and even family members are subtly trying to sabotage my success. They bake me cookies, they don't honor my requests for specific foods when I eat at their homes, and they don't acknowledge the effort I am making to lose weight and be healthy. These are the same people who used to bug me about doing something positive for myself and losing weight! Why the sabotage?

~Disappointed in Delaware

Dear Disappointed:

It is a let down when people whom we'd expect to be our biggest supporters try to undermine our progress. It is actually very common. In a survey of 1,226 respondents conducted by eDiets.com, over 51 percent reported that friends regularly tempted them with off-limits foods when they were dieting. And 62 percent said it was far easier to stick to a weight-loss plan if they kept it a secret. While I don't promote diets (diets don't work for many reasons) the truth remains that when one person starts to lose weight, it disrupts the status quo in the relationship. There are subtle psychological dynamics involved when one person is always "struggling" and the other is the "cheer leader" or "strong one". When that dynamic shifts, it threatens the others' role as the "strong one". Your friends and family members aren't used to your growing strength and self-confidence and may feel uncomfortable. Also, their own weight issues may be harder to deny now that their focus isn't on yours. If they compare themselves and feel like failures, it could trigger a subconscious desire to sabotage. The best thing to do is to be quiet about your new path, and your progress. If this is truly a lifestyle change, then you need to be committed to it no matter what anyone else says or does. And it does involve making hard choices. If you don't want to eat at a restaurant or party that isn't safe for you, it's ok to decline, or to bring your own food. And it's ok to distance yourself from people who are negative. You need to put your well being first. If you stay on course, others will ultimately get used to your changes and may even join you!

*Do you have a question you'd like to have answered? Write me at askitbasket@betotallyfree.com.

(Please forward to everyone you know!)

Turkey Day

Do you know that the average individual Thanksgiving dinner has over 2000 calories? The following are some eating tips so that you can still look good, feel good and be healthy after the Thanksgiving dinner without having to hurt yourself with food.

Eating the right foods and minimizing stress are major by-products of Be Totally Fre*e's services. Check out our website for more information.

December 3rd - De-Stress, Eat Less: This informative workshop helps you minimize holiday stress and increase joy while losing weight! Sunday, December 3 from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm in Los Angeles. For more information and to register, click here.

January 15th - 6 week TRANSFORMATIONAL TELECLASS begins: Breaking Fre*e from Emotional Eating--Mondays at 5:30 pm Pacific/8:30 pm Eastern. For more information and to register, click here.

Join University of Masters and hear Tricia's regular classes: "Change Your Life, Change Your Waistline."

After overcoming her own lifetime battle with compulsive eating, drinking and weight-without the use of diets, pills, medication or excessive exercise-Tricia Greaves founded Be Totally Fre*e!, a non-profit organization that offers a unique and permanent solution for overcoming all addictions. To learn about the hope we offer to those who have tried everything to stop, visit www.betotallyfree.com.