Shoulds or Musts...Push or Pull??

Cabo San Lucas was our sunny port of call this 7th week of our Team Challenge cruise! We were inspired by our Alumni friends, Steve and Patty Loster who recently moved to Cabo to pursue one of their dreams! The changes they made at The Healthy Weigh, not only with their weight, but with their thinking, gave them the confidence to make this big move!  Steve and Patty, We celebrated you Tuesday!

Tuesday was all about progress! That's what we're all really after. Progress in every area of our life! Change in inevitable...but progress is a choice!  Some passengers of THW DINAMI, are looking at their progress so far this 10 weeks and feeling great about it. Others, not so much.  They great thing is, we all have the opportunity every day, to begin again. Sometimes progress requires "do overs!"

I talked about the difference between motivation that pushes and motivation that pulls. The "I shoulds" vs. the "I Musts." To be successful for long term, we've got to be pulled toward what we want! The key to continued progress with your weight loss is to create a desire so strong that you are pulled toward it...you MUST have it! Pushing requires will power and will power doesn't last. Pulling is automatic and you can't keep from getting what you really WANT!

We had GREAT weight loss this week in spite of it being Thanksgiving!  It was so exciting to hear about all the passengers that were "down" for the week!  Congratulations to everyone who had a plan and worked your plan!  I'm proud of you!

Our top teams for the week were gifted with the ever inspiring life preservers and Walgrens gift cards!  Those will come in handy for Christmas!

Noon: "From Thick to Thin"  Jim and Renee with a 1.80% of weight loss for the week!
5:30:   "Cruise Control"  Ruby and Debbie with a 1.22 % and a win the second week in a row!
7:00:   "The Last Syrah"  Ami and Gail with a 1.78% of weight loss for the week!

Great job you guys!  You had some wonderful weight loss this week!

Your Challenge For The Week:
Listen to week # 6  "Body ~ Soul ~ Spirit,  The Spiritual Perspective"  and do the homework provided!

As we are preparing to enter into the month of December...the very last month of 2012, I reminded our passengers that we can have a pulling kind of, progress making kind of, permanent life change, no matter what the month, what the holiday, what the day.  When you've created a desire for the life you really want...none of that matters!

Here's to one of the most powerful December's you've ever lived...full of progress and change!

Always encouraging you,
Letha

Team Challenge Standings

12.7 Mission Slim-Possible
10.8 From Thick To Thin
10.7 Bobbin’ Along
10.1 Making Headweigh
9.8 Overweighty Matey’s No More
9.7 B.B.O.P. Babes Be On Program
9.5 Worth The Weight
8.9 Gopher It
8.8 Cast Aweighs
8.6 Assturn Losers
8.2 Tug Tug Tagalongs
8.1 Too Heavy Honeys
8.1 Team Titanic ~ We’re Goin’ Down
8.1 Golden Girls
7.9 Last Syrah
7.8 Pounds Aweigh
7.6 Afts Aweigh
7.4 Weigh Back Then
7.4 Voyage To The Bottom of the Scale
7.3 Team Sisu
7.3 Sitting Pretty
7.2 Wedding Cruisers
7.2 Dunnage Dumpers
7.1 Hernanitas
7.1 Cruisin’ The Holidays
7.0 The Olive Oils
6.9 Thurston and Lovey
6.9 Dinghy Divas
6.8 SS Kiss My Stern
6.8 Pounds Over Board
6.6 SS Minnies
6.6 Cruise Control
6.5 PB&J
6.2 Goin’ Down Like The Titanic
6.1 Flabuloss Life Preservers
6.1 Bahama Mamas
5.9 Unchartered Waters
5.9 Sea Gals
5.9 Professor and Marianne
5.9 Anchors Aweigh
5.7 Lien and Mean
5.7 Leo Girls
5.2 Serious Leigh
5.2 Captain Crunchers
5.1 SS Second Wind
5.1 Sail a Weigh Mermaids
5.0 Cruisin’ Losin’ Nanas
5.0 Cruisin’ For A Losin’
4.9 Cruisin’ To Losin’
4.9 Cast Off The Pounds
4.7 Scuttle Butts
4.7 H2M ~ Hot Healthy Mama’s
4.6 Bikini Wannabees
4.3 Sisters Cruisin’ To Lose
4.2 Thin Mints
4.2 Bit By Bit
4.1 Trophy Wife Wannabees
4.1 Sink or Swim
4.0 Full of Flava
3.9 Girls Just Want To Be Fit
3.8 Slimmer Swimmer Life Preserver’s
3.7 Cruisin’ Losin” Girls
3.6 Champion Cruisers
3.5 Pulling Up Anchor
3.5 Not Water Weight
3.3 Under Way
3.3 Ship Shape Too
3.3 Mermaids In The Making
3.2 SS Men Overboard
3.1 Walk The Plank
3.1 Knot Turning Back
3.0 Ship Shape
2.8 Sassy Lasses Losing Our Asses
2.8 Odyssey and Beyond
2.6 Viking Warrior Weight Slayers
2.6 Ship Happens
2.6 Anchored Mamas
2.4 Hip Hips Aweigh
1.8 Chicken On The Buffet
1.7 Full Throttle
1.7 Chicks Ahoy
1.6 Cruisin’ & Losin’ With Cayah and Susan
1.4 Mama’s Droppin’ Dozens
1.0 Waist Management
1.0 Kankles Aweigh
0.0 A Weigh Mates
.9 The Unknowns
.9 Team Folgers

What's Your Plan of Attack?

We had an unexpected day at sea due to the storm. Good thing THW DINAMI is such a powerful vessel because we fired her up to 22 knots and out ran the storm. We'll be in Cabo San Lucas next week, but for this week we gathered together on the ship one more time before we spend the day giving thanks with our families and friends on Thursday!

This day at sea gave me the opportunity to "get rea"l with all the passengers. I might not have given the talk that they expected to hear from me the week of Thanksgiving...but I believe it was really good one! We talked all about the plan!

Plan; a scheme, program, or method worked our BEFOREHAND for the accomplishment of an objective; a plan of attack!

Our time together Tuesday was focused on our plan of attack for Thanksgiving day. My advise this day could have been "Stay on the program, don't deviate, having dressing is not an option..." But instead the passengers of this cruise ship heard me say..."Make a plan, and follow through with it." "Make a plan and be a person of your word."

The first question everyone needs to ask is "What is my objective?" Do I want to lose weight over Thanksgiving? Do I want to stay the same weight? Do I want to come back next week having stayed 100 % of the program? What is my objective. From there, its' all about the plan.

With 21 meals between now and next Tuesday and plan might look like this:
My objective: To lose 1.5 pounds by next Tuesday
My plan of attack: Stay on program 20 meals between now and next Tuesday, drink all my water every day, exercise 4 to 5 times before next Tuesday. On Thanksgiving Day; eat turkey, cranberry, BIG salad, veggies, one spoonful of dressing, one small dessert with coffee.

Yes, I said that!!! Here's what I believe. To make a plan that is balanced and healthy and be disciplined enough to follow through with that plan is the most powerful weight loss program of all. One of the keys to being successful with this plan is that the weekend following Thanksgiving needs to be planned out as well. Everyone must be prepared with program foods and flip that switch to be 100% on program the rest of the weekend!

Each passenger was encouraged to fill out a "plan of attack" sheet with an objective and a plan, for both Thanksgiving Day AND the weekend following! I'm excited to hear about the balance and the discipline that our clients show this Thanksgiving.

We had some happy winners this week and some great weight loss!
Noon: "Team Titanic" Betty and Stacy with a 2.53% of weight loss
5:30:   "Team Cruise Control" Ruby and Debbie with a 2.24% of weight loss
7:00:   "Team Crusin' the Holidays" Betty and Sandi with a 2.67% of weight loss

Congratulations to all the winning teams and all the clients who are doing so well!

This weeks challenges:
Download week # 5 "Exercise and Weight Loss ~ It's a Math Problem" and do the homework provided.
Turn in your "plan of attack" sheet next week.

This can be an exciting, wonderful time of year. It always come down to how we think. I'm so thankful to be sharing my life with a group of people who are pursuing their best lives by changing their thinking. Here's to a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday thinking rightly!

Always encouraging you,

Letha

Team Challenge Standings

10.9 Mission Slim-Possible 
9.9 B.B.O.P. Babes Be On Program 
9.1 Bobbin’ Along
9.0 From Thick To Thin
8.6 Making Headweigh 
8.6 Gopher It 
8.6 Assturn Losers 
8.5 Worth The Weight 
8.5 Team Titanic ~ We’re Goin’ Down 
8.5 Overweighty Matey’s No More 
7.9 Too Heavy Honeys 
7.7 Tug Tug Tagalongs 
7.7 Cast Aweighs 
7.5 SS Minnies 
7.5 Golden Girls 
7.2 Cruisin’ The Holidays
7.1 Voyage To The Bottom of the Scale
7.0 Team Sisu 
7.0 Afts Aweigh 
6.9 Weigh Back Then 
6.8 Wedding Cruisers 
6.8 SS Kiss My Stern 
6.7 Pounds Over Board 
6.6 The Olive Oils 
6.5 Pounds Aweigh
6.5 Leo Girls 
6.5 Dunnage Dumpers 
6.1 Last Syrah 
6.0 PB&J 
6.0 Goin’ Down Like The Titanic
6.0 Flabuloss Life Preservers 
5.8 Dinghy Divas 
5.8 Bahama Mamas 
5.7 Captain Crunchers
5.6 Hernanitas
5.4 Thurston and Lovey
5.4 Cruisin’ Losin’ Nanas 
5.4 Cruise Control 
5.3 Professor and Marianne 
5.1 Unchartered Waters 
5.1 SS Second Wind 
5.1 Lien and Mean 
5.1 Cruisin’ For A Losin’
5.0 Sea Gals 
5.0 Anchors Aweigh 
4.9 Trophy Wife Wannabees 
4.9 Sitting Pretty 
4.9 Girls Just Want To Be Fit 
4.8 Sink or Swim
4.6 Serious Leigh 
4.6 Scuttle Butts
4.6 Sail a Weigh Mermaids 
4.6 H2M ~ Hot Healthy Mama’s 
4.6 Cast Off The Pounds
4.5 Champion Cruisers
4.4 Bit By Bit 
4.3 Kankles Aweigh 
4.3 Cruisin’ To Losin’
4.2 Thin Mints 
4.2 Bikini Wannabees
3.9 Not Water Weight 
3.8 Under Way 
3.7 Sisters Cruisin’ To Lose
3.7 Cruisin’ Losin” Girls 
3.6 Viking Warrior Weight Slayers 
3.6 Ship Shape Too 
3.6 Pulling Up Anchor
3.5 Walk The Plank 
3.3 Knot Turning Back 
3.2 SS Men Overboard 
3.1 Chicken On The Buffet 
2.8 Sassy Lasses Losing Our Asses 
2.7 Ship Shape 
2.6 Odyssey and Beyond 
2.6 Anchored Mamas
2.4 Slimmer Swimmer Life Preserver’s 
2.4 Hip Hips Aweigh 
2.3 Mermaids In The Making 
2.2 Full of Flava 
2.2 Chicks Ahoy 
2.1 A Weigh Mates 
2.0 Ship Happens 
1.7 Full Throttle
1.6 Cruisin’ & Losin’ With Cayah and Susan 
1.4 Mama’s Droppin’ Dozens
1.2 Team Folgers 
1.0 Waist Management 

Storms Happen!

Storms happen...they happen in life and they happen when we try to lose weight!  The questions isn't whether we will go through storms...but how we'll handle them.  I related storms to EXCUSES this Tuesday. Excuse; a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense.  

I challenged our passengers to look back on their weight loss endeavors and identify the storm (excuse) that was put before the goal to lose weight and live a different life style. Some have been insignificant and others tragic, but either way, they cause major damage.

I introduced our cruise Director, Glenda, and she did an amazing job helping us all understand the amount of control we have when the storms come. She challenged us to look at the things in our "back pack" related to the storms that come. We were all inspired as we looked at what we really have control of...in the midst of a storm.

We had some great 2.0 pounds weight losses and 3 of our passengers went home with a $50 gift card! Congratulations to you all!!!

Our winning teams for the week were excited too!

Noon:   Team "Overweighty Matey's No More"  Melissa and Denise  with a 2.00% of weight loss for the week!
5:30:     Team "Mama's Droppin' Dozens"   Julian and Amber with a 2.18% of weight loss for the week!
7:00:     Team "Sisu"  Chastidy and Judy with a 1.99% of weight loss for the week!

Congratulations to all of these teams! Your effort this week really paid off!  

Your Challenge For The Week:
Download week # 4 "Coping Skills ~ Feeling Your Way Through Life" and do the homework provided!

Bonus ticket: Post on Face book this week! Something inspirational, something that will help another!

We are on week # 5 of this 10 week cruise! We've got 5 great weeks to accomplish wonderful things!

Here's to a week of "living the life of the person you want to become!"

Always encouraging you,
Letha

Team Challenge Standings

9.5 Mission Slim-Possible
8.6 B.B.O.P. Babes Be On Program
8.6 Assturn Losers
8.4 Bobbin’ Along
8.0 From Thick To Thin
7.7 Overweighty Matey’s No More
7.7 Making Headweigh
7.6 Gopher It
7.2 Worth The Weight
6.8 SS Minnies
6.7 Pounds Over Board
6.5 Tug Tug Tagalongs
6.5 Cast Aweighs
6.4 Afts Aweigh
6.3 Team Sisu
6.2 Too Heavy Honeys
6.0 Hernanitas
6.0 Golden Girls
6.0 Dunnage Dumpers
5.9 Voyage To The Bottom of the Scale
5.9 Team Titanic ~ We’re Goin’ Down
5.8 Wedding Cruisers
5.7 Serious Leigh
5.5 Unchartered Waters
5.5 The Olive Oils
5.5 Leo Girls
5.5 Goin’ Down Like The Titanic
5.4 Scuttle Butts
5.3 Thurston and Lovey
5.3 SS Kiss My Stern
5.3 Sea Gals
5.3 Professor and Marianne
5.2 Flabuloss Life Preservers
5.1 Sink or Swim
5.1 Lien and Mean
5.0 Anchors Aweigh
4.9 Pounds Aweigh
4.9 Captain Crunchers
4.8 Cruisin’ To Losin’
4.7 SS Second Wind
4.7 Champion Cruisers
4.6 Weigh Back Then
4.6 Sail a Weigh Mermaids
4.5 Last Syrah
4.5 Cruisin’ The Holidays
4.4 PB&J
4.4 Girls Just Want To Be Fit
4.4 Bit By Bit
4.4 Bahama Mamas
4.3 Kankles Aweigh
4.2 H2M ~ Hot Healthy Mama’s
4.2 Cruisin’ Losin’ Nanas
4.2 Bikini Wannabees
4.0 Trophy Wife Wannabees
4.0 Sitting Pretty
4.0 Cruisin’ For A Losin’
3.9 Thin Mints
3.9 Dinghy Divas
3.7 Cast Off The Pounds
3.5 Walk The Plank
3.5 Under Way
3.5 Cruisin’ Losin” Girls
3.1 Not Water Weight
3.1 Knot Turning Back
3.1 Cruise Control
3.0 Pulling Up Anchor
2.9 SS Men Overboard
2.9 Sisters Cruisin’ To Lose
2.9 Ship Shape Too
2.9 Ship Shape
2.8 Sassy Lasses Losing Our Asses
2.8 Full of Flava
2.6 Hip Hips Aweigh
2.5 Slimmer Swimmer Life Preserver’s
2.5 Mermaids In The Making
2.3 Anchored Mamas
2.1 Chicken On The Buffet
2.1 A Weigh Mates
2.0 Viking Warrior Weight Slayers
2.0 Ship Happens
2.0 Odyssey and Beyond
2.0 Cruisin’ & Losin’ With Cayah and Susan
1.8 Mama’s Droppin’ Dozens
1.7 Full Throttle
1.5 Team Folgers
1.2 Chicks Ahoy
1.0 Waist Management

Just Keep Swimming!

Things were pretty fishy on this 4th week of our Sail A-Weigh cruise! We had another glorious day at sea, but spent it in the galley cooking FISH!  Our Tuesday was all about FISH!
My desire was to inspire our clients to EAT MORE FISH!  I think we struggle eating fish because:

We don't know how to buy it
We're not sure how to cook it
We over cook it and end up with dry fish!

So...we covered not only the GREAT benefits of eating fish, but we learned a bit about choosing a great piece of fresh fish and had 5 recipes discussed and displayed! I think we're on our way!!!

I think the biggest motivation for our passengers of THW DINAMI is that people who eat more FISH, lose more weight! That's motivation enough during this great month of November, 2012!

Our prize for the wining teams this week was donated by Nancy H.  One of the coveted prizes of past Team Challenges has been Nancy's amazing cooking class in her home.  Six of our hard working passengers will be attending a class with Nancy and will take home the food they make together!  Thank you Nancy...and Congratulations to our winners!!!  Here they are!

Noon:  Team 'Bit by Bit,' Bev and Jeanna  2.24% of weight loss for the week!

5:30:    Team 'Cast A Weighs,'  Debbie and Kristine  1.95% of weight loss for the week!

7:00:    Team 'Mission Slim-Possible,'  Joe and Belinda  2.08% of weight loss for the week!

These teams are taking November by storm!!! Calm waters, but powerful weight loss!!

We learned more about the benefits of fish, but we were also inspired by our friends from "Finding Nemo." "Just Keep Swimming"...was the mantra of the day! No matter how difficult life gets..."just keep swimming." If you've followed program beautifully and you're not seeing the results you want..."just keep swimming." Whether your going it alone without a partner, or have someone to go on this journey with..."just keep swimming."

We are on week 4 of this outstanding cruise and we have EVERY reason to "just keep swimming."

We've got a couple of challenges for the week that are going to keep all passengers focused!

YOUR CHALLENGES FOR THE WEEK:

Every Passenger with a 2.0 pound weight loss for the week will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card! We will choose a passenger at each gathering!!!

Report at the pursers desk as you arrive next week and announce what kind of fish you ate this week! (get a ticket in a drawing)

Down load week #3 "What's in Your Back Pack~ Controlling what You Can" and do the homework provided!

November can be a healthy, weight losing month if you take one day at a time and make great choices! Here's to a fabulous week on program eating FISH!!!

No matter what my friends...JUST KEEP SWIMMING

Always encouraging you,

Letha

Team Challenge Standings

8.9 B.B.O.P. Babes Be On Program
7.8 Mission Slim-Possible
7.2 Bobbin’ Along
7.0 Assturn Losers
6.6 Gopher It
6.5 Team Titanic ~ We’re Goin’ Down
6.5 Cast Aweighs
6.2 Sassy Lasses Losing Our Asses
6.2 From Thick To Thin
6.1 Afts Aweigh
6.0 SS Minnies
6.0 Making Headweigh
5.9 Tug Tug Tagalongs
5.7 Overweighty Matey’s No More
5.6 Worth The Weight
5.5 Unchartered Waters
5.4 Professor and Marianne
5.3 Serious Leigh
5.3 Golden Girls
5.2 Weigh Back Then
5.1 Hernanitas
5.1 Dunnage Dumpers
5.0 Anchors Aweigh
4.9 Pounds Over Board
4.9 Pounds Aweigh
4.9 Goin’ Down Like The Titanic
4.8 SS Kiss My Stern
4.8 Scuttle Butts
4.7 Too Heavy Honeys
4.7 Cruisin’ The Holidays
4.6 Wedding Cruisers
4.6 The Olive Oils
4.6 PB&J
4.5 Sink or Swim
4.5 Lien and Mean
4.5 Bahama Mamas
4.4 Voyage To The Bottom of the Scale
4.4 Cruisin’ To Losin’
4.3 Team Sisu
4.3 Sea Gals
4.3 Kankles Aweigh
4.3 Flabuloss Life Preservers
4.2 Sitting Pretty
4.1 Not Water Weight
4.1 Bon Voyage To The Bulge
4.0 Thurston and Lovey
3.9 Sail a Weigh Mermaids
3.8 Trophy Wife Wannabees
3.8 Leo Girls
3.8 Cruisin’ Losin’ Nanas
3.8 Champion Cruisers
3.8 Cast Off The Pounds
3.7 Thin Mints
3.6 Viking Warrior Weight Slayers
3.6 Ship Shape
3.6 Last Syrah
3.6 Girls Just Want To Be Fit
3.6 Cruise Control
3.6 Captain Crunchers
3.5 H2M ~ Hot Healthy Mama’s
3.5 Dinghy Divas
3.5 Cruisin’ Losin” Girls
3.5 Bit By Bit
3.4 SS Second Wind
3.2 Bikini Wannabees
3.1 Ship Shape Too
3.1 Cruisin’ For A Losin’
3.0 Walk The Plank
2.9 Ship Happens
2.8 Pulling Up Anchor
2.8 Anchored Mamas
2.7 Slimmer Swimmer Life Preserver’s
2.7 Chicken On The Buffet
2.6 A Weigh Mates
2.5 Under Way
2.4 Sisters Cruisin’ To Lose
2.4 Hip Hips Aweigh
2.3 Knot Turning Back
2.2 Full of Flava
2.0 Chicks Ahoy
1.8 SS Men Overboard
1.8 Odyssey and Beyond
1.5 Team Folgers
1.5 Mermaids In The Making
1.4 Full Throttle
1.3 Cruisin’ & Losin’ With Cayah and Susan
1.0 Waist Management
.0 Mama’s Droppin’ Dozens