Losing weight - this is how I do it. Part 1

„You look good. But you've put on weight!“ Phew. It's no fun when you hear something like that. Especially not when the person saying it is also right.

The last few months have been great. Several family celebrations and other parties with really good food. One week as a speaker in a hotel in Switzerland where the food was really good. Hmm.

The last few months have been tough. Very intensive work at the publishing house. And lots of challenges too. The practical and financial challenges on the ship and in the publishing house. Several books and calendars had to be reprinted. This is basically good news, because it shows that people love and appreciate what we publish with a lot of heart and love.

The only problem with reprints is that - because many people already have the books - it often takes a very long time before enough books are sold to cover the printing costs. Three at once, that brought me to the brink - and beyond the brink - of insolvency. An immense burden for me.

I'm one of those people who tends to eat more than is good for me in stressful times. My trousers got tighter. The walk up the 80 flights of stairs to my flat became harder. And life as a whole became heavier and more arduous. I'm only 5 - 7 kilos over my usual weight. But I can feel it. I wonder what it feels like when people carry around 10, 20, 40 or more extra kilos.

The turning point

I had been suffering from this for some time. But it was the comment from the woman who hadn't seen me for a year that made me take action. I have decided: I want to get rid of the excess weight. Quickly, but without a spasmodic diet.

I currently weigh 67 kilos (still ok at 1.70 m tall, but not a comfortable weight for me). I want to get rid of 5 kilos in the next few weeks.

The measures

I have done a lot of research into nutrition and know how to gain and lose weight. That's why I'm focussing on the emotional and psychological factors in the first week of my lightness life.

Define your goal: More lightness.

The word „losing weight“ suggests to the brain that you are losing something. Losing - nobody likes that. That's why I phrase it in a positive and motivating way.

I want more lightness, more waist and more contours.

Goal in sight

There is no point in visualising illusory goals - such as wanting to have a Barbie figure - this doll is rather anorexic anyway. But it is important to realise the positive effects. For me, these are above all

• Ease - getting up the 80 stairs to my flat more easily again
• Beauty - I find myself more beautiful when the contours of my face are clear.

Take an honest look at obstacles

The biggest obstacle for me in achieving my goal is making exceptions. Today, chocolate, cake, wheat bread, sweet juice... It's ok to make exceptions now and again, but when the exceptions become the rule, then it becomes problematic. I know myself well and I know that I tend to allow myself too many exceptions. I want to be aware of this danger. And specifically allow myself exceptions to lean, fit eating on Saturdays, for example, when I'm working on board, but not all the time.

Communicate goal

If you tell other - well-meaning - people what you intend to do, you help yourself to achieve a goal. So I decided to make my intention public.

Seeking relief

For me, too much stress is the main factor in overeating. That's why I want to seek relief on five levels

- Physical relief - massages

I have 16 presentations in the next 2 months. And other projects on the go. That's a lot. To take the pressure off, I want to treat myself to a massage at least once a week. Either very cheaply on the Jade massage tables (40 minutes for 5 euros) or a little more expensive during happy hour at the massage parlour around the corner. It's good for me and really takes the pressure off.

- Clearance - tidying up

Because of all the reprints, my office and hallway are full of boxes of books. It doesn't look nice. It weighs me down. And tidying up drastically increases the chances of losing weight - there are studies on this. I want to sell things and put them somewhere else so that my surroundings look nice again.

- Mental relief - giving up

Plan clearly and well. Do what I can and consciously place what is beyond my control in God's hands and leave it there.

- Ask for support - involve you

Finances are the biggest burden at the moment. That's why I'm asking you to consider whether you'd like to help me. If you would like to help me lose weight, you can do so in two ways:

a) Buy lots of books and calendars. Simply visit our Online shop buy all your Christmas presents. I particularly recommend my new inspiration/devotional book „Thank you, life!“ Or a small supply of Impulse booklets, Postcards and Quadros to give away. Then that's taken care of . And it helps me to cope with the immense printing costs.

b) Donate to the ship. This week I have to pay around 500 euros for electrical bills and buy around 500 euros worth of wood so that we can continue building. I'd also like a worktop for the galley we're currently building (approx. 150 euros). All of this costs money that I don't have. That's why I'm asking you: Please consider making a small or large donation to help me overcome my challenges. I am happy about every cent and euro that helps me to continue and finish building the ship.

- Marking steps - celebrating successes

Roads to a destination are roads - it takes a while to get there. You need strength for the journey. I want to practise celebrating what I have done well again. I also want to be happy about small steps and successes. Gaining lightness, working in the publishing house and on the ship. And thank God and people for their support, e.g. on the ship.

Next week I'll tell you how I fared in the first week of losing weight, er, gaining lightness. And what else is helping me!

Book tip: Slim and fit.  In this quadro I have summarised all my knowledge about nutrition and fitness in a crisp and compact way.