Peace Dare: Bite #1

December 10, 2014 | Robynn Coates

Hey There! Glad you’re with us!

PWF Testimonial: One of Robynn’s friends decided to apply Bite #1 at a Mexican restaurant she visits frequently with her family. Before this concept, she would order a Pepsi to go with her meal. Although it was just the first few sips that actually tasted good, she would drink the whole glass because she was thirsty and it was “there”. However, after she heard this concept she began ordering her Pepsi, but also a water. After three sips, when the soda no longer tasted good, she would give it to her husband and instead drink her water.

What a great way to apply this principle!

So, now it’s your turn! Take the Peace Dare:

Have fun with it, savor your food, and experiment how each bite tastes! If you have a buddy you can share your results with, please do!

Carrie Underwood Thighs

December 9, 2014January 10, 2015 | Robynn Coates

One of the things Lara and I have learned in this process of Peace with Food is that if you want to walk in peace and freedom you have to get real.

Real with yourself. Real with others.

And we also realized that if we wanted to help others experience the peace we now have we would have to be transparent.

So, hopefully that is what you’ll find here.

The truth.

Not doctored up.

Not watered down.

But real, raw, and brutally honest.

And speaking of brutally honest, have you ever noticed that diets and weight loss programs rarely talk about some of the more . . . what shall I call it . . personal stuff? Sure, they will talk about what to eat and how to exercise, but when it comes to self image and the way you perceive your body, it is . . .

Cricket.

But not here. So let me share with you a snapshot of my self-image and my body.

Most of my life I was not happy with my body. My biggest area of contention?

My thighs.

I had always wanted pencil-shaped thighs, the ones like Carrie Underwood and many of the models you see in magazines, not the drumstick shaped ones I was blessed with (yes, I now actually see them as a blessing!).

So, off I went – pursuing my mission of pencil-shaped thighs! I went on many strict diets (obviously before PWF) and finally lost a significant amount of weight getting me down to an all-time low. And here is the crazy thing. I actually loved the way I looked, the way I fit in my clothes, and the way I felt. But because I was so obsessed with getting those pencil-shaped thighs I couldn’t even enjoy the body I had. Talk about missing the forest for the trees!

My all-or-nothing mindset (which by the way I overcame via Peace with Food – yet another perk of PWF!) would not allow me to enjoy my life and my body. It saddens me to think of the parts of my life I wasted because I couldn’t enjoy my life unless I was “perfect”. And it makes me all that more determined to help others break free from this insane cycle.

It took me getting down to the bottom of my BMI to realize that I would never have Carrie’s pencil-shaped thighs, but it was Peace with Food that got me to the point where I don’t care about those thighs anymore. I have learned to accept me “as is”. Sure, I’ll strive to change those parts of me (both inside and out) that are within my control, but I’m not going to extremes and I’ll only do what gives me peace.

What is your version of Carrie Underwood thighs? If you were given one wish and could change any part of you, what would it be?

Own up to it. Admit. And be honest.

Is it within your power to change? If so, will the requirements to do so bring peace?

If not, I hope you’ll let it go and learn from my lesson:

Life’s too short not to embrace your imperfect self and get back to the most important things in life.

Take-Home Message:

Get real about your self-image. Change what you can change and let go of the rest. It is time to embrace life!

Peace with Food is…

December 8, 2014January 13, 2015 | Robynn Coates

WHAT IT IS:

Peace with Food is a step-by-step, customized lifestyle, tailored specifically for you!

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Principles! Unlike diets that focus on rules, Peace with Food relies on principles that will help guide you like a compass. Follow the peace principles and they will lead you directly to peace!

Tools! In order to have Peace with Food you have to find what tools work best for you. We have A LOT of them to share and some will work for you and others won’t. This is okay! Peace with Food is all about finding what speaks to you. Take and tweak what we share, and above all do whatever you need in order to have peace. That is the most important thing!

New Life! Because Peace with Food is so different than what you would expect from a diet, you won’t be given a list of requirements of tasks you have to do. We will offer guided questions and thoughts to help you discover what your customized lifestyle to Peace with Food looks like. At times you may feel uncomfortable since the norm is to follow a very specific plan. But remember, we are not lab rats. Each of us is unique so we have to figure out a lifestyle of food, tailored specifically to each individual person.

Pep-Talks! You may have moments where you want to rush through our process because the “quick fix” would be so much easier. We had those same feelings. When you catch yourself gravitating back toward the diet mentality, remind yourself of what that future looks like by reading 10 Reasons Diet’s Don’t Work. We will also be there every step of the way, to support and encourage, so you don’t lose sight of what you are fighting for: PEACE.

A Game Plan! If the scale fluctuates when you get started in this process, don’t panic. This happened to us, but at the time we had no idea what we were doing! Hopefully, by learning from our mistakes, you can eliminate the amount of fluctuation we experienced. BUT, if you do face this, we encourage you to have a game plan by asking yourself this question: What do I have to lose? When you really think about it, diets help you lose the weight initially, but then you gain it all back (often times, gaining even more!) Because of this, diets actually take you deeper in the hole. Peace with Food will allow you to see improvements with every step you take, weight included! So it is worth it, even if the beginning may feel out-of-the-norm. So what do you have to lose? Nothing, because the long-term outcome will be worth it!

Ownership! You are the expert of your life. No one knows you better than you. We will ask you to be your own scientist taking a new look at your life by experimenting and observing your likes, dislikes, what will keep you in the game, etc. You will be the expert at knowing yourself , and before long you’ll be able to coach others to do the same!

WHAT TO DO NOW:

Take the 30-Day Peace with Food Peace Challenge by clicking here!

Why Diets Don’t Work: Reason #10

December 7, 2014December 7, 2014 | Robynn Coates

Reason #10: Peace with Food follows peace, diets a plan.

Maybe you think that following peace and not a diet sounds too good to be true.

Well, the good news is that it is TOO GOOD and best of all it is TRUE.

We are living proof. And the cool thing is this: Our lives have not only changed in the area of our eating and the way we view our body, but also in every other area of our life! Following peace has literally given us a 180.

Yes, Peace with Food is a 180 from diets.

So what does it mean to follow peace, you’re wondering?

Following peace simply means that you are making choices that you will not only be happy with now, but also choices you will be happy with down the road. Peace with Food sees the now as well as the big picture.

One way we have learned to follow peace is to give our selves permission to eat the foods we love {even if these foods are considered “bad” by some}. We know that depriving our selves of these foods is a recipe for disaster.

That doesn’t mean that we don’t set limits on the food we love. We still have to use wisdom because there is no peace in excessive weight gain and poor health.

Another way we have learned to live in peace is in choosing our physical activity. Because Lara is not a fan of traditional exercise, she stays fit by being active around the house doing DIY projects and chasing kids. Robynn, on the other hand, likes working out, but she doesn’t want to be tied down to a workout plan, so she constantly mixes it up with running, light weights, and workout videos. When the weather is nice she takes it outdoors.

That’s just a sampling of what we do. The question is, what works for you? What choices will give you peace in the now as well as in the future? That is the answer you are after.

That is what it means to follow peace.

Take-Home Message:

Follow peace by making choices that bring you peace not only now but in the future as well.

Why Diets Don’t Work: Reason #6

December 2, 2014December 5, 2014 | Robynn Coates

Reason #6: Diets Love Rules – Rules That You Just Can’t Keep!

One thing we don’t like is rules. Now, don’t get us wrong, we are not talking about rules instituted by those in authority in an effort to maintain order and ensure that things are running smoothly. Schools, workplaces, and the like need rules to operate. Without them there would be chaos. We are former teachers, so we get that.

Instead, the rules we are talking about are man-made rules that people enforce on others due to preference or how they think people should live their lives. Rules about the way you should dress. Rules about the way you should raise your kids. Rules about how you should eat.

And that is exactly what diets do. They impose upon you what you are to eat, when you are to eat, where you are to eat, you name it. If it has anything to do with food (and maybe even exercise) they have a rule for you!

Rather than enforcing rules, Peace with Food is based on principles – timeless truths that are true for all people at all times. These principles govern the world we live in. And whether we like them or not, they rule supreme.

An example would be the law of sowing and reaping. We learned early in our Peace with Food journey that when we plant the seeds of depriving ourselves of the food we love, we will eventually reap those seeds back in the form of a binge. We also learned that not having appropriate boundaries results in overeating and weight gain.

Not rocket science, just cause – effect.

So, if you’re like us and are tired of rules, come join us at living with peace.

Life’s a whole lot better, we found, when we pitched the rules and began living by principles!

Take-Home Message:

Living by principles will bring you peace.

Why Diets Don’t Work: Reason #5

December 2, 2014January 10, 2015 | Robynn Coates

Reason #5: There are more factors involved in your happiness and health than just the physical aspect.

One of the things we really disliked back in our dieting days was the way those diets made us feel.

In a nutshell – like lab rats.

They dictated when we could eat, what we could eat, and in some cases even where we were to eat. The setting was very controlled and the rules very strict. And there were no exceptions. Period.

And in theory, if you had no other factors influencing you, this might work. But as we all know, that’s just not the case.

Life happens.

Your kids have birthdays with cake and ice cream.

Thanksgiving does not get postponed just because you are on a diet.

And if your diet does occur after the new year, the Super Bowl still goes on as scheduled, along with the Super Bowl party complete with Buffalo wings, nachos, pizza, and chips.

No, life does not get cancelled just because we are on a diet.

So, what is one to do?

Here’s what we did: We embraced life as it is, with all the events that make it uniquely our life. And the only way we knew to do this is to pitch the diet and follow peace. When we learned to follow peace instead of a diet we learned a healthy balance of eating the foods we loved and moderation.

Your situation may be different than ours. Maybe you have a physical condition that restricts you from eating certain foods. Peace with Food for you may involve avoiding certain foods all-together or at the very least, limiting them. That is the beauty of Peace with Food. It is a customized plan that works uniquely for you!

If you are like we were back in our dieting days and are tired of being treated like a lab rat, why not give Peace with Food a try? Regardless your situation, you can find peace in the complex, yet wonderful thing called Your Life!

Take-Home Message:

Embrace life as it is, with all the events that make it uniquely your life. How? Pitch the diet and follow peace.

Why Diets Don’t Work: Reason #4

December 2, 2014January 10, 2015 | Robynn Coates

Reason #4: Peace with Food relies on skills, diets on willpower.

What does a professional athlete, accountant, concert pianist, and a plumber all have in common?

One word: skill.

They have learned a set of skills and honed them to become successful in their area of expertise. And how exactly did they hone these skills? They spent considerable time practicing.

There is no way to get around it. If you want to be skilled at something, you have to practice. And living at Peace with Food is no different. If you want to be successful in maintaining your optimal weight, living a life you love, and doing it with peace it will require skills, not willpower.

It’s funny how unskilled we were in this area of Peace with Food when we first began. Back when we started on this journey, our peace was probably a 1 or 2 on a scale of 5. But now, after practicing continually we would have to say that our peace in this area is an 4 or 4.5. And it is all because we pursued skills and not willpower.

What’s so bad about willpower? Well, it’s not that it’s bad, per se. It’s just not the optimal tool for the job. Unlike skills, which bring success, willpower is fickle. Here today gone tomorrow. Any one who has any dieting under their belt has most likely experienced the ebb and flow of willpower. It seems like when you need it most it is MIA.

Unlike willpower, skills will help you live at Peace with Food for life, not just for 16 days, 23 days, or whatever the length of your newest diet (if even that). When you acquire skills such as self-control, making wise choices, and “resetting” right after a mess-up, you will get a much bigger bang for your buck than some temporary surge of willpower.

So, instead of mustering up the willpower to try harder, consider developing skills that will ensure your victory. What skill would help you make a quantum leap in the area of Peace with Food? Start there. As your skill level goes up, so will your success!

Take-Home Message:

Skills will lead to success.

Why Diets Don’t Work: Reason #3

December 1, 2014January 10, 2015 | Robynn Coates

Reason #3: Diets don’t last.

Let’s admit it. Diets are horrible at giving us a plan that will keep us in the game for life. Sure, we may be able to stick to a diet for a few months, but even if we do, it never sticks because we get tired of the control it has over our lives. Remember the popcorn and water diet that Lara went on in college to lose a few pounds? A week later she threw her hands up in defeat because the diet actually caused her to GAIN weight! That’s right, gain! And when this happens don’t you want to scream, “So forget it!” and turn to food out of frustration? There it is, another diet that didn’t last…

Or how about those times you were 100% committed–you were diligent with your workouts, healthy eating, and calorie tracking, and you were able to shed a significant amount of weight. Life was good in regards to dropping pounds, but then what happened? If you are anything like us, you were ready to start having a “normal” life once you lost the weight, but once you got there, you had no idea how to do it. It left you at at a dead-end. Diet Maze

Diets don’t give you the tools to succeed, they just give you the quick fix to lose the weight, leaving you empty-handed, LOST, on how to maintain the weight for life.

So, if diets have no staying power, no ability to keep us in the game, how can we win at a game we are not playing?

We can’t.

Time for a new game plan.

Something we can do for life. And something that we can be happy about doing. That’s Peace with Food.

Are you ready to let go of dieting and try something you can do for life? Reclaim your life and get back in the game!

Take-Home Message:

Peace with Food is something you can do for life and it is also something that will give you peace and happiness.

Why Diets Don’t Work: Reason #2

November 29, 2014January 10, 2015 | Robynn Coates

Reason #2: Making a number on the scale the center of your universe is a fruitless endeavor.

As kids, we can become very attached to our favorite toy, blanket, or stuffed animal. It is as if these beloved items have a magical power over us, a force that is so powerful it can stir up the fiercest beast in the smallest person. Hide a kid’s blankie or stuffed animal right before bedtime and you can witness this phenomenon first hand. It is meltdown on the spot. Who knew these items could have such a powerful hold on such a young soul?

As adults, we may graduate from these childhood items but then replace them with other security blankets. This differs for everyone. It may be money, achievement, position. . . but for some of us, our magic blankie is a number in our head of our dream weight. It is the answer to all our problems, the center of the universe.

And even if we do reach that number (which many never do) there still remains a void. That’s because a number on the scale was never meant to satisfy your soul. But peace, well yes, peace has the power to do exactly that!

Now, that’s not to say you can’t have a goal number you would like to weigh. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, we encourage you to know what weight range you feel best in and set goals to get there, but expecting a number to “complete you” is a fruitless endeavor.

How do we know this? Because we’ve been there a hundred times. We went on a diet and reached our goal weight, but instead of experiencing excitement and joy, we were jolted with disappointment and disillusions. Our so-called magic number didn’t produce the peace we had expected.

But when Peace with Food came into focus that all changed. That’s because a number on the scale was no longer the number we obsessed over. Instead, we were inspired and motivated by a number that trumps all other numbers: #PEACE. Now, we ask ourselves this: On a scale from one to five, how much peace do I have in regards to my eating and body?

It no longer matters what the scale says. If the number on our peace-meter is any lower than a four, we know we have to make adjustments so our number and happiness is better next time.

What number would appear if you were weighing in on your peace in the area of eating and your body? This is the number that you have control over. Consider changing your focus from a number on the scale to the number on your peace. We think when you do, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see that your goal for the scale will eventually catch up.

Take-Home Message:

The number that trumps all numbers is the number on your peace. One to five, how peaceful are you in your eating and in your body? It doesn’t matter what the scale says, if the number on your peace is any lower than a four, it is time to make adjustments.