10 Ways to Stretch Your Family Entertainment Fund

No matter how strapped for cash you may be, families require fun diversions. The key is to think creatively. A fun diversion doesn’t require an expensive day at an amusement park. Following are ways to stretch your family entertainment fund:

1. Find free factory tours, visit a historic site, see a play at a local community college, a high school musical, and find free concerts offered at many churches.

2. Head to the library for books and DVDs. Many libraries also offer free passes or discounted passes to local museums, zoos and aquariums.

3. Sign up for restaurant birthday clubs which offer free meals on birthdays.

4. Start fun family traditions, such as a weekly game night (find slightly used board games at thrift shops), family movie night (rent movies from dollar kiosks found in supermarkets), or pizza night (have the children help you make your own pizza).

5. Check out recipes online to learn how to make your favorite dishes from popular restaurants.

6. Try silent auctions to find discounted gift certificates or baskets of household items at well below their value.

7. Share a large entrée with your spouse or children when dining out, as well as any appetizers or desserts.

8. Go for a walk. Enjoy a walk around the neighborhood or through a park. Give the kids a list of nature items to collect along the way, such as three pinecones and two different leaves.

9. Have a car picnic. Pack a picnic and park the car at a scenic overlook, where you can watch planes take off, or where you can watch wildlife amble by. Play some music, a book on tape, or just talk to one another.

10. Swap babysitting duties with friends at no charge and escape for a night out!

Article by:
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com, where you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk eBook’s Guide to Family Budgeting – Step-by-step guide to help you establish a workable budget.

Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Being a Stay At Home Mom

I have been a stay at home Mom for over eight years now, and have grown to enjoy every minute of it!

It wasn’t always this way, though. Don’t get me wrong…I love, love, love being with our children and watching them grow every step of the way. There is no other place in the world that I’d rather be. However, making the switch from being a full-time working woman to being a stay-at-home-mom was a big adjustment!

Gone were the days of taking care of myself first, and showering when I wanted to. I missed adult conversations, and the freedom that went along with having a job outside of the home.

Over the years I have discovered ways to enjoy each and every day that I am home with them, and avoid the isolation that sometimes comes with being a homemaker:

1. Create a routine. Make a time schedule for your days, and do your best to stick to it. I realize that it’s not always possible with little ones, but if you can do it most days, it will help you from feeling so overwhelmed.

2. Don’t lose your interests. Remember the things you like to do, and keep a some of them going. For the first few years I was at home, I completely lost myself. I would come to the section on a form that says “What are your hobbies or interests? What do you do in your free time?” and I realized that I did not have any free time, and my hobbies had all taken a back seat to raising the children! I slowly incorporated my hobbies back into my life, even finding ways to get the kids involved with them, and I am a much happier person for it.

3. Just because you are a stay-at-home-mom does not mean you need to stay home! Sitting around the house with your children every day can get very lonely. Get out of the house and meet other moms, or just take your children places where you can interact with others. Since money is often a concern for single income families, look into free options to get yourselves out…the library, the playground, a Mommy’s group, etc.

4. Make time for yourself each day. I know that this sounds impossible with all of your responsibilities, but I’m here to tell you that it is essential to your well being. Schedule “me time” any time of the day that it’s most convenient. Don’t do any housework or homework with the kids…this time is ONLY for you! A half an hour to read a book or exercise will make a world of difference to your mental well being.

5. Connect with other stay-at-home-moms. Find forums and blogs on the internet where you can ask and answer questions and feel a sense of community with like-minded people.

6. Volunteer or find way to give to charity. Although you may not feel like you are contributing financially to the family (even though you are by saving on day care costs), you can still volunteer your time to get the feeling of contribution. Work at a nursing home a few hours a week, serve lunch once a week at a homeless shelter (or make the food at home to donate to the shelter), if you have school aged children then volunteer at their school, mow the lawn for one of your older neighbors…the ideas are endless! Not only does this make you feel great at the end of the day, it is also a great example to your children.

7. Schedule “date night” with your spouse at least once a month. Keeping in touch with your relationship with your husband is so important. You need to go out and be a couple…away from the everyday stresses. Find some other Moms that will trade you hours of babysitting (you watch their kids one Friday night, and they watch your children the next Friday night) to save on the cost of a babysitter.

8. Don’t try to be perfect. I’ve often felt like my house should be sparkling clean, my children should be dirt-free, and all my affairs should be perfectly in order—all because I don’t work outside of the home. The truth is, that is not a reality for any stay-at-home mom. In fact, I think that it is even harder to be organized with your kids at home all day than if they were away at day care! So, don’t sweat it if the laundry piles up for a few days, or the dishes go unwashed until the morning. The housework will always be there, but your children will grow up in a blink of an eye. Spend as much “fun time” as you can with them now.

9. Get a part-time job. After being home for a few years, I really started to feel guilty about not making any money for the family. The good news is, there are several part-time jobs that you can work a stay-at-home mom’s schedule…you, too, can become a WAHM (Work At Home Mom)! Start your own website or blog, watch other people’s children (also a great social tool for your children who are at home), sell children’s clothing or other items on an auction site such as Ebay…the opportunities are out there, you just need to look for them. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

10. Remind yourself each day how fast your children grow. Visualize them being grown, and how you will feel when they leave the house. This automatically makes you savor every minute that you have with them.

About the author: Tiffany Blom is the publisher of Do It Yourself Gifts , where you can find many inexpensive, creative, homemade gift ideas for any occasion. Her unique site includes free projects, ideas, and instructions for people of all ages. Find your next gift project there!

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk eBook’s How to Make Money on eBay.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

Understanding Recycling And The Impact On The Environment

Recycling is an earth saving, indeed essential, element of our world today. Voluntary recycling conserves resources and raises our wealth and knowledge. Recycling makes complete sense as it is worthwhile to you personally.

By making the choice to recycle now you are showing you are being pro-active towards saving our earth. Recycling is an important part of our effort to build a cleaner, greener environment.

The recycling environment is working on having one container box instead of separating your bottles, cans, jars and paper into separate containers. This is to support the ease of recycling.

Recycling is just one way of reducing the amount of waste. Some countries offer its surplus items for reuse through EBay. Recycling is a definite community effort! Recycling products are converted into its raw state and a new product is made from this. When the word Reuse is used it means the material remains in its original form.

Recycling is definitely successful in situations where large volumes of readily classifiable materials are available, such as pallet wrapping or sacks used by companies and the large agricultural sector. The secondary plastics, such as those arising from electronics equipment such as computers, photocopiers, and fax machines are normally in considerable demand.

The purpose of recycling is to conserve natural resources and reduce pollution. For example recycling is available for Apple customers not purchasing a new system from the Electronic Recycling Program. Glass recycling is a more common form of recycling. Glass is sorted by colour. There are different recycling bins for depositing green, brown and clear glass. There are also now depository areas set aside for used motor oil.

Remember recycle today and play your part in saving the environment.

Richard Coppin is a UK based webmaster who enjoys writing articles on a wide and varied range of topics. Visit environment-Green to find out more about hydroelectricity.

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Teaching Your Child about Tolerance and Diversity

In a world where there are so many cultures and ethnicities represented in our society we must learn how we can teach our children about the many types of people who make up our world.

Do you remember who taught you about how people were different from you? Or did you have to figure it out on your own as you encountered them as you grew up? Whichever the case, we hope that you will teach your child about the diversity in our world so that they can learn to be tolerant of others and live peacefully with them in society.

Here are some ways to make sure that your child understands the diversity among us and has tolerance for others:

1. Books, movies, and toys that encourage and promote diversity. The use of books, movies, toys and other items in your home that teach about other cultures and ethnicities can help your child to embrace the differences that are among us. Exposure to differences starting at a young age helps a child to develop accepting attitudes of other cultures.

2. Teach your child about other cultural traditions. While you are celebrating Christmas, another family might be choosing to celebrate Hanukkah. Why not invite that family to share in some of your activities and ask if you might share in some of theirs, allowing both sets of children to learn about the differences & similarities in the traditions.

3. Teach your child what is considered tolerable. Remember that sometimes a concept such as tolerance can be confusing for a child. They might mistake it for allowing others to bully them. This should not be the case. Make sure that they understand tolerance does not mean allowing malice or meanness to take place, but only allowing participation and sharing of their culture with others.

4. Talk openly and answer questions. Have a policy or agreement with your child that it is okay to ask questions. Allow them to ask you about things that they are unsure about, reminding them to do this in private rather than in the grocery store in front of the lady who is dressed differently because of her culture. Remind them to respect others while they are in their presence and afterwards, but encourage them to talk openly about any questions that they might have in private between the two of you. Later you might research more about the culture of the person that they were wondering about.

These are just a few ways that you can help your child to begin to understand and tolerate the various people that we encounter everyday and our many differences.

Article by:
Lisa Smith has a BA in psychology, & is the Owner of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant and toddler clothing line with ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on the Regionz Kidz website that features articles about cultural diversity and children & she is a guest blogger on several other websites and blogs relating to parenting and children’s issues. She is also a monthly contributor to Educated Mommy Magazine.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

Top 10 Ways to Cut Spending

Do you run out of money before you run out of month? Do you wonder where your money goes each month? Do you struggle to find money to invest for retirement, emergencies and other financial goals? Here are 10 tips to cut your spending and stretch your dollar to the max:

1. Consider dropping your home telephone line. Your cell phone is probably all you really need, and most likely it has free long distance. You could save $30 or more per month by dropping your “land line”.

2. Cut back on trips to Starbucks or other premium coffee shops. Often called the “latte factor”, spending several dollars per day on luxuries like premium coffee can really add up. For example, if you spend $4 for a cappuccino five times a week for 50 weeks out of the year (you’re on vacation the other two weeks), you would spend $1,000 in a year. Try treating your trip to Starbucks as a treat instead of a habit. You’ll save money and probably lose weight too!

3. Pay your mortgage payment bi-weekly instead of monthly. You’ll pay less interest and pay off your mortgage faster.

4. Carry cash instead of credit cards. Psychologically it’s harder to spend cash than it is to use the credit card. You’ll spend less and save on interest charges.

5. Use the “envelope system” for groceries, dining out, entertainment, and other discretionary spending categories. This will help you track how much you spend in these categories as well as prioritizing your spending.

6. Raise the deductible on your homeowners and auto insurance policies. It’s not wise to file claims for small losses anyway (insurance companies love to raise rates after you file a claim), so a higher deductible will save you money now and in the future.

7. Buy regular gas instead of premium. Most cars don’t need premium gasoline. Also, take public transportation if it’s available in your area. Take advantage of “park and ride” and carpooling options.

8. Plan your purchases to avoid impulse buying. Take a list with you to the grocery store and stick with it. Studies show that impulse buying can add $10-50 to your grocery bill – ouch!

9. Go to the library instead of the bookstore. If you’re an avid reader, give yourself a book budget for books that you will want to keep, and go to the library for everything else.

10. Take a vacation at home. Check out all the local sites and happenings. You’ll rediscover your hometown and save on travel and hotel costs.

These are just a handful of ways you can cut spending and stretch your dollars, but if you follow these tips you’ll discover you have more money at the end of each month to apply to other financial goals, such as saving for college, retirement or just for a rainy day.

Article by:

Kristine A. McKinley, CPA, Certified Financial Planner®, and founder of Beacon Financial Advisors, teaches people how to invest and plan for retirement, college, and other financial goals. Kristine offers financial and tax planning on an hourly, fee-only basis. Learn how improving your credit score can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars each year by signing up for our free ecourse Boost Your Credit Score in Five Easy Steps.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk eBook’s Guide to Family Budgeting – Step-by-step guide to help you establish a workable budget.

Need An Original Gift? Make an Alphabet Gift Basket

In our family, birthdays have always been a special occasion for my mother. She enjoys giving presents, but she loves opening them even more, especially presents that are thoughtful and unique.

This year we wanted to do something different to make her birthday memorable. The whole family chipped in to prove that the alphabet could be just as much fun, even for someone who long ago left school and has long mastered the art of reading. Using the alphabet as our guide, we made up a gift basket of 25 small and one big present – all in all, one present for each letter of the alphabet.

We added to the cheer by making her “work” for each present. She had to solve a riddle for each letter of the alphabet. An example of one of the riddles is the one we used for the jelly: “Add boiling water and cold temperature to turn this powder into a sweet temptation.”

Below is the list of gifts we packed into the alphabet basket…
A: Aromatherapy oil.
B: Bath salts.
C: A fragrant candle.
D: A recipe for a date pudding.
E: Easter egg, as her birthday was close to the Easter weekend.
F: Fizz balls for a nice and relaxing bath.
G: A small gift voucher for her favorite store.
H: A tube of hand cream.
I: An invitation to a coffee date.
J: A packet of jelly.
K: A loving kiss from my father.
L: A raspberry flavored lollipop.
M: Milk chocolates, one of her strong favorites.
N: A floral nightie for the cold winter.
O: An orange.
P: A packet of popcorn.
Q: A quiz cut from an old magazine.
R: One red rose.
S: Scented body spray.
T: Travelling rug to keep her warm while watching television.
U: Unlimited hugs.
V: A vitamin enriched drink.
W: The big one, which was a watch.
X: An old Xmas card from one of her sisters.
Y: A South African magazine called “Your Family.”
Z: A plastic zebra toy.

This was the best present ever! My mother, who also happens to be a sentimental person, cherished the notes with the riddles on for many days. She will always remember her alphabet gift basket.

I am sure that, upon receiving such a special gift, your mother (or grandmother) will feel just as loved.

Article by: Benetta Strydom is the owner of Crafter’s World Online.

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7 Tips For the Unoffical Leader In You

A leader can take many forms in many different business situations, often when a person isn’t even “the Boss”. If you find yourself in a group with a deadline with no leader in sight, you may have to be the one to take charge. When this happens, what should you do and NOT do?

When people normally think of a leader in business they think of the boss, but being a leader doesn’t require a fancy title, or even official recognition. Leadership simply needs one person to stand up, take charge, and achieve the goal. In an ad hoc or temporary group, others might not see someone as the leader, but that one person could still make sure the group operates as a team and accomplishes their goal.

How can someone who has not been anointed or appointed accomplish this? Here are some tips for those that find themselves in an unofficial leadership role.

Tread Lightly
The leader does not need to be the smartest – or the fastest, or best looking. It could be anyone, but since it’s you standing up to be the unofficial leader, realize that others in the group may not agree. Simply proclaiming that you are in charge will cause more harm than good. Subtly is your best friend in the beginning of the transition from mob to team. Often, a leader can be created in the other’s eyes by simply being the first one to say, “Ok, so what do we do first?”

Crawl Then Run
The first hurdle for an unofficial leader is to get the group talking. What are their ideas? What do they think is the best course to take? Of course if everyone agrees on one direction, then this stage is done, but that rarely happens. Most often there will be two different schools of thought. The leader should not take sides, but encourage discussion of opposing viewpoints and plans. Stay above the arguments to mediate and stimulate the flow of ideas. Soon, one course will become clear, or at least more feasible than the other. When this happens, you may be surprised to see everyone looking at you to give the final judgment on what to do. Already, you have become the lead person to go to in their subconscious minds.

Group Triage
An important step for a leader is to recognize all the various tasks that need to be done to accomplish the goal. Who is best at what? Who would be most effective where? Hopefully you will already know, but most of the time you will need to find out. So ask what they would be best at within the available tasks to accomplish? You’ll get honest answers, but sometimes the answer is not what they are best at, but what parts of the work they would rather do. If they are the only one to volunteer for a certain task, let them have it. If two or more chime in, then prompt them to discuss among themselves who would be better suited. If they figure it out, great, but usually they will look to you to make the final decision again. Pay attention to their arguments and pick the best one for the job.

Not an Island
Realize that you don’t have to come up with a plan or best course of action all by yourself. You just have to pick the direction and get your people there. Recognize the best plan, even if it isn’t your own. Pay attention to complaints, and problems, but make sure to spot your own flaws as well. For the benefit of the team, volunteer for the job you are best suited for, even if it is one you don’t want to do. Remember that it is not about you being a leader, but your team accomplishing their goal and you are but one part of that team.

Not Omnipotent
Since you have no official power, there is nothing to back you up. You can’t hire, fire, or discipline anyone, so why should they listen to you? Remember, you will earn your leader position by what you do, not who you are. Since being a leader is not about ordering people around, you will spend most of your time suggesting the best possible course, or coaxing the others in the right direction. Your best course is to get your people to do what they need to do without them realizing you’ve done anything.

Motivate
A group with clearly defined capabilities to match all the tasks at hand with an embraced purpose and definitive goal is ideal. That almost never happens in the real world unfortunately, but then if it did, the real world wouldn’t need leaders. Once your team is all facing the same way, you will probably find that some need to be moving faster than the others. An unofficial timeline, with specific deadlines is a nice subtle way to show where each person is at and where they should be. A quiet, private, chat with the problem group member might help as well, but make sure your persona is that of a fellow group member worried about the project and their own part in it, NOT as the unofficial leader. Group cheers and celebrations when one person or another accomplishes their part will help get the lagging member moving. Remember, “problems in private, praise in public.”

Following Your Lead
Nothing gets a bunch of people moving faster than someone heading off in the right direction. Ideally, the team moves forward together, but there’s almost always a winding up period. Set the example by attacking your part with enthusiasm, professionalism, and vigor. If they see you working hard, helping others, and generally doing everything you can to get the team to its goal, then they will follow suit. They will notice if you are cheerfully doing a job they know you don’t want to do. They will notice you listening to other team members, taking advice, and following directions. It will motivate them to do their part for the team and add to your role as unofficial leader.

The Good Follower
There is an ancient saying: “A good leader is a good follower.” This would be a simple paradox if not for the fact that most aspects of a leader involve following others. The leader will follow the best path for the team to take. The leader will follow the advice and direction of those in the team if they are better than the leader’s own. The leader must follow the leader’s own examples. If you look closely at the tips above, you’ll notice that each one requires the participation of the others in the team. A leader cannot lead without people to follow, but a leader can’t move forward without following the team.

Leading people is a privilege and an honor; both not to be abused. Being a leader makes you special, but you are not special because you are a leader. A leader is just a part of a team that together is working towards a goal. Accomplishing the goal… that’s the whole point to being a leader. It is not about you, your status, recognition, or the fancy title. It’s about making things happen. But, if you make things happen, then your status will rise, you will gain recognition, and, yes, get that fancy title. Always remember though, you can’t do it alone.

Article By:
Amy Linley gives practical and usable advice regarding communication and meetings at AccuConference. Find out more about our conference call, web conferencing and video conferencing services from AccuConference.

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How To Start Homeschooling?

Choosing to homeschool your child is not an easy decision. There are many considerations to keep mind when deciding to go the homeschool route.

So how do you get started after you have made the decision to go homeschooling?

Here are the list of things you might want to find out and prepare before even starting your first homeschooling session.

1) Homeschooling Requirements. Each state in the US has their own homeschooling requirements. So be sure to check if you are qualified to conduct homeschooling in your local area. Most homeschooling requirements are pretty simple so it should not be a problem.

2) Homeschooling Support Groups. It is not a requirement to join a homeschooling support group but it definitely will be very helpful to get in touch with parents who are also homeschooling in your local neighbourhood. A support group can provide support and advise especially when you are just starting out. Some homeschooling support groups also have regular educational trips and activities such as to the zoo, museums and libraries etc.

3) Prepare The Home Environment. You will probably need to make some physical rearrangement of your home to cater an area for homeschooling. You also need to purchase the study materials such as stationary, whiteboard etc.

4) A Homeschooling Schedule. You will need to come up with a study schedule for each day’s lessons, games etc. It is also good to come up with a book keeping system to keep track of the tasks that have been completed. In some states, this is also a requirement.

5) Homeschooling Curriculum. You need to select the method of homeschooling for your child. This is based on the child’s learning aptitude and his/her learning ability. Popular methods are Montessori, classic and charlotte mason homeschooling.

As you can see, there is quite a lot of work and planning involved before starting homeschooling. That is why joining a homeschooling support group can help you so much if you do not know some of the points above.

About the Author: Ricky Lim runs a homeschooling reviews site. Visit his site for more homeschooling information such as Montessori Homeschooling and homeschooling cost.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

Raising Money For Cervical Cancer Research

With a few clicks of a mouse, you can help raise money for cervical cancer research.

HerRoom.com is an online lingerie company and they are once again sponsoring The Undie Awards. Simply vote for your favorite brand and style of underwear (both men’s and women’s) and they will donate 25 cents per voter (up to 100,000 voters). All proceeds will benefit the National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign.

Every year, nearly half a million women are diagnosed with this disease worldwide. Please find 5 minutes in your day to vote and contribute to this cause.

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

Why You Can’t Lose Weight: Seven Blocks to Successful Weight Loss and How to Overcome Them

If you’re like me, you’d sooner write a nutrition book than follow one! If you’ve read at least one nutrition or diet book in your lifetime, then you probably know what to eat. You may even have it down to a science: a cup of this, four ounces of that, two tablespoons of this, and so on. Yet when you really want to eat, you’re sitting down on the couch with a bag or box, not your measuring cup.

My extra fifty extra pounds wasn’t caused by lack of nutritional know-how, it was caused by uncontrollable emotional eating. You see, we don’t overeat simply because we love food – if only it were that simple; we overeat and snack on unhealthy foods out of emotional impulse. Successful weight loss is possible only when we identify what emotional function overeating is playing and take action to fill our needs in healthier ways. I have identified what I believe are the seven primary emotional blocks to lasting weight loss and how to overcome them.

1. The Stress Effect
The number one cause of compulsive eating is stress. When our energy is low from overactivity and burnout, we use excess food to power us through. Eating relaxes us—temporarily.
Often, our stress is self-created; we subconsciously seek validation from our professional, social, and family obligations. Are you aiming to please at the expense of your own health?
Try this: Adopt a meditation or yoga practice and embrace the silence; allow peace to be your new craving, instead of approval and food. For “easy-to-do” meditation, visit http://www.MeditationYouCanDo.com.

2. The Great Escape
Overeating dulls our emotions. The more we eat, the further away our troubles seem to be. Eating starch and sugar causes a secretion of serotonin in our systems, creating a feeling of euphoria and a numbing of our senses. The problem is that the further we escape in food, the harder life becomes; our problems pile up, and our ability to cope diminishes.
Try this: Ask for help from a friend, coach, counselor, or family member to face difficult issues. The sooner you face them, the sooner you’ll solve them.

3. Self-Protection Plan
Studies prove that there is a very strong link between obesity and experiences of early childhood sexual abuse. The fact is that when our bodies are violated in any way, it is natural to want to protect ourselves from further harm. Maintaining a large (or underweight) body can also be an unconscious attempt to shut down our sexuality and keep our own sexual impulses in check. We not only construct a physical prison with the intention of keeping others out, but also to trap ourselves in.
Try this: Begin exploring your relationship with your body and your sexuality. Join a supportive dance or exercise group and seek assistance from friends, a coach, or a counselor.

4. Buried Alive!
We use food as a pillow to muffle our inner voices. We all have that still, small voice (God, Spirit, Holy Spirit, conscience, intuition) inside, directing and protecting us. When we listen to it, our lives are relatively smooth and orderly. When we deny it and act from our ego mind, we create chaos. We often bury this voice to avoid the responsibility of following its guidance.
Try this: Affirm daily: “I welcome, embrace, and eagerly follow my inner voice, for this brings me energy, protection, and unlimited good!”

5. Self-Sabotage Solution
Gaining weight and living in a body we cannot stand erodes our self-esteem and self-confidence. We often have a deep-seated belief that we are bad and subconsciously take perverse pleasure in our food lashings. We easily feel guilt for things we have thought, said, and done, and instead of addressing these issues directly, we seek to deliver our own punishment by overeating and gaining weight.
Try this: Start today to forgive yourself for all that you perceive you’ve done wrong. Next, when you say or do something that offends or if you make a mistake, apologize and move on.

6. Self-Care Crisis
Emotional eaters take better care of others than themselves. But if you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will or can. Eating right is about self-care, not self-control. If you don’t make self-respecting choices in your life, you won’t be able to make self-respecting choices when it’s time to eat.
Try this: Spend the evening fixing and savoring a fresh, organic meal at home. Relax, and enjoy the experience!

7. Decrease the Deficit
Most compulsive eaters are compulsive doers. Yet we pay dearly for our “super powers”. At the end of a hard day, we refuel with a binge, telling ourselves that after all we’ve accomplished, we deserve it. The fact is that we create a deficit when we try to do more than our bodies and minds can reasonably do in a day. If we have to compensate for all do we by overeating, we are doing too much.
Try this: Identify one activity a week you can cancel or pass to someone else. Everything will get done without your being there to do it.

If you want real answers as to your weight problem, look within. It’s not because you have the wrong diet, running shoes, or exercise equipment; the food you crave is filling an emotional need that must be addressed and healed in order to have lasting success. When you identify and heal these mechanisms your entire life changes, and with it – the number on the scale.

Article by: Tricia Greaves is the founder of Be Totally Free!, which helps people to overcome eating disorders, emotional eating, dieting and weight loss and all addictions. She is a contributing author of “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Health” and “Thank God I Was Fat”. Tricia has been featured on TV and radio shows including K-USI San Diego, K-EARTH, and WOR.

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

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