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Back Cover"There are lots of diet books written by Doctors. But they don't understand my emotional struggles. Ed does.
He understands the ongoing battle between my inner child (I deserve it) and my inner parent (You can't have that.) I no longer feel like a victim of my food choices or body type. Instead, I feel like every choice is mine to make. It's so empowering." Cynthia Salbato
"It can be hard to resist the voice in your head saying "I don't want to", "You can't make me", "My mother made me", or "I deserve it." This is where Ed's approach comes to the rescue. It helps give up your rackets and break through the undermining assumptions that hold you back. It's a very powerful approach." Margaret Shockley Gandy, N.C., East West Healing Arts Center
"You've shown me how to come out of the closet, forgive myself, and start each day with a clean slate. More important, you've helped me see my body as a temple, and understand that I'm a spiritual being living a human existence. I'm less obsessed with food now. I know the perspective you've given me will have a profound and lasting impact on my life." Judith Pavlik
"Eds book hits directly on the major reasons that most diets fail they are a house of cards built on our existing way of thinking. Eds approach Change Your Thinking, is fundamental not only to success at achieving your ideal weight and health, but to making intentional change and living a successful life." Rob Hambelton
"This is not just a book about diet or weight loss, it's also about finding and living your life's purpose, and going after your own happiness..." Jennie Cui
"Given the state of our nation & economy your book and program may have more of a positive impact on a massive number of people than one can possibly imagine. Imagine the world with people who are not only healthy but are enjoying being who they are. What a gift." Bob Donovan
Back Cover continued...
It Was All in My Head
2011 Ed Taylor
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Not only did Ed Taylor lose over 110 pounds without dieting or surgery, he did it
without goals or will power. His innovative approach focuses on understanding the effect beliefs have on thinking and how our thinking is what determines our weight and level of fitness. Ed shows how obtaining and maintaining your ideal weight can be the result of living harmoniously with consciously developed core beliefs and values, not, as conventional wisdom would have you believe, the result of using will-power and discipline to pursue a goal. Because of his amazing transformation, Taylor is an inspiration to readers worldwide, showing that it is possible to have this kind of life-changing experience, not only did he do it, but anyone can. Ed's totally unique four step "HALO Method" explains how you can live in "Energetic Alignment." The result is a simple, dietfree approach that defies generally accepted wisdom and achieves dramatic and lasting results.
Ed Taylor has absolutely no credentials to write this book other than his results. Forgetting about diets, weight loss goals and will power Ed simply examined his core beliefs and his personal values. He discovered some of his beliefs and values were faulty and needed to be updated. Losing 110 pounds was purely a side effect of living more congruently with his new beliefs and values. Ed's website- AskEdTaylor.com provides support, coaching, a social network, videos, etc.
2011 Ed Taylor
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Copyright 2011 by Ed Taylor Cover design by Lori Taylor Book design by Lori Taylor All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review. Ed Taylor
More information and videos are available at TheHALOMethod.com and AskEdTaylor.com
2011 Ed Taylor
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Dedication
I dedicate this book to you! May you have the wisdom to see and the strength to live by your most innate heartfelt values and beliefs. May you experience Energetic Alignment and enjoy all of the health, happiness and contentedness that you deserve. Beyond that, may the "Inner You" accomplish, learn and evolve in all the ways that are in harmony with your True Purpose.
"To change, you must face the dragon of your appetites with another dragon: the life-energy of the soul." Rumi
2011 Ed Taylor
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IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD Thought is the force that forms who we are, A new diet with old thinking won't take you too far. I've been on many diets that worked for a time, But soon I'd be back eating that old "diet" of mine. As my goals and my will power went right out the door, I would gain back the weight I had lost, plus more! I now have discovered the secret I've sought, Weight loss results from the things I have thought. By changing my thinking I've now lost many pounds, And it was incredibly easy, as crazy as it sounds! Your thoughts will determine the weight you lose, So carefully consider the thoughts you choose.
Ed at 320 pounds
Ed at 215 pounds
2011 Ed Taylor
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CONTENTS Forward Introduction: My Personal Awakening Part I 8 10
Head: Develop "Your Own" Belief System

1 2 BELIEFS- Changing My Beliefs Changed My Life Changing My Thoughts Changed My Body 20 28
Part II
Actions: Changing Circumstances By Changing Thoughts

3 Conscious Thinking, Faith, Spirit and Free Will 35
Part III
Lucid Living: Snapping Out of Societal Hypnosis

4 Wake Up & Take Control of Your Life 42
Part IV
Ongoing: Develop "Your Own" Eating Plan

5 6 7 8 9 10 YOUR Plan Your Routine Be Flexible Staying True Honor Yourself Closing Thoughts 48 50 52 56 64 68
2011 Ed Taylor
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FOREWORD
For years, I continually fell short of the physical expectations I held for myself. I blamed myself for not having the will power or the discipline necessary to obtain and maintain anything approaching my ideal weight. I lived by hundreds of excuses: I was too busy, my work was too demanding, I'll start Monday, or the first of the month, or after my birthday, etc., etc., etc. Now I know I was simply being misguided. Conventional wisdom, the books, the diets and the plans that Id tried were just "not a fit" for me. It was not that I didnt have the ability to lose weight and keep it off -- I just didnt have a plan that was right for me. Finally, I developed my own plan and that's what this book is about. I'm NOT suggesting that you go on "my plan." Quite the contrary, what I am suggesting is that you develop YOUR OWN PLAN. I have written The HALO Method to help you develop the belief system, the thought processes and the eating plan that fits you and which will allow you to obtain and maintain your ideal weight. My purpose is two-fold: 1. To provide you with information about the process I used to lose 110 pounds and totally improve the circumstances of my life. 2. To inspire you to discover for yourself and understand that: "Our thoughts control our destinies and we can control our thoughts." Our weight is a result of our thoughts, which we choose and encourage. Our mind is the creator of our character and of the circumstances of our lives (including our weight) and, until now both may have been created unconsciously. However from now on, by consciously choosing our thoughts, we may create both our character and our circumstances, including our weight and fitness, in ease, enlightenment and happiness.
Ed Taylor Ashland, Oregon
2011 Ed Taylor
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Acknowledgments Writing this book has been one of the most fun and at times one of the most frustrating things I have ever done. Now, with the book complete, I have one final page to write; this one. With great joy in my heart and a smile on my face, (yes, really I'm smiling as I hit each key on my keyboard) I'm reflecting on the journey of writing this book and the people who have helped me along the way. At the top of the list is my wife Lori. Lori and I were on a plane when I was struck with the vision of sharing my weight loss and "energetic alignment" experience in a book. I scribbled pages and pages of notes on a yellow pad while we were in the air and on the layover I shared them with her. Lori, thank you for your unending encouragement. I also want to thank you for being my wife, my partner through, good times and bad, your skill, your heart, your clarity and your wisdom. Your constant help with my personal development, your illustration and cover design of this book, the development of the supporting websites, and most importantly, to the evolution of my life, in ways too numerous to mention. Thank you for everything. I love you. To Zak, my son, you spurred my awareness and introduced me to things that are at the foundation of my change in thinking and at the seat of my commitment to living true to my higher self. Thank you. To Danika, my daughter. What a joy and inspiration you have been your entire life. Thank you. Thank you too for all of your help with the weight loss support group and being such an inspiration to others, I'm so glad that we re-connected in this way this time around. To my parents, thank you both for all of your help, your countless readings and suggestions. Thank you to the founding members of my weight loss support group. Cheri Brown, Judy Pavlik, my daughter Danika and Lysa Gore. This book would not be what it is today if it was not for your help and input. Thank you Jessica Vineyard, Rob Hambelton, Jennie Cui, Cynthia Salbato, Bob Donovan, Margaret Shockley Gandy, Colleen Clary and Marci Taylor for reading and helping to improve my early drafts and Gail Kingsbury for being there for me. I also want to extend a very special thank you to my editor Willy Mathes. And finally to my lifelong friend, Richard Golden, your words, while not repeatable here, remain an inspiration to me as does your awakening and your commitment to living your purpose. Thank you.
2011 Ed Taylor
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Wake Up & Take Control of Your Life

I like to think of myself as a reasonably intelligent person who, at least most of the time, makes good decisions based on sound reasoning and logic. And, Im imagining the same about you that is, you, too, consider yourself reasonably intelligent, reasonable and logical. However, both you and I if youve decided to take a look at this book have something more in common, I believe. And that is we both have had or currently have a desire to change our habits, especially our eating habits! Let me share a little story with you... A teacher takes a bit of lightweight thread and wraps it one time around a student's wrists. He tells the class, "This string represents the power of doing something one time. Can you break the string?" The student easily breaks the thread with a small flick of his wrists. The teacher then wraps the string around the student's wrists many times and repeats the challenge to break it. Despite repeated efforts, the lightweight thread is too strong to break. His teacher says, "Now you see the power of repeated actions...habits. It takes more than mere willpower and personal strength to break them. It takes a change in the way you think about the problem." The idea that you can control your bad habits is a myth. Bad habits are impulses... so instead of controlling them, we often end up repeating them. Even though we recognize the stress bad habits cause in our lives... and even though we make promises to change our ways... again and again, we repeat the same habit patterns! That's because a habit, by definition, is an acquired pattern of behavior that has become almost involuntary as a result of frequent repetition. BAD habits prevent us from reaching our potential. They're self-inflicted punishments that drain us of motivation, time, money and they keep us eating and moving the way we always eat and move. Bad habits hold us back from living the great life we know we could achieve.
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Just think of all the times you've said something like... "The diet starts Monday and I'll stick to it this time, I SWEAR!" Sound familiar? You're not alone. The reality is most people try to break habits backwards; we try to physically change our behaviors before we have changed our beliefs and our thoughts. The result? Stress. Disappointment. The erosion of self-esteem. When we use "will power" and "discipline," instead of changing who we are by changing our beliefs and our thoughts and simply living in alignment with who we are, we set ourselves up for a "battle of wills." Your conscious "will power" versus your beliefs and prevailing thoughts. Of course, some people can muster up enough will power and discipline to achieve their goals and maintain them. It's my belief that somewhere in that process, they also changed their beliefs, their values and their thinking. For me, the easy way to lose bad habits was to change the way I thought before I changed the way I acted. I developed a belief that allowing unconscious habits to dictate my actions is just not consistent with my purpose or vision! Let me repeat that: I developed a belief that allowing unconscious habits to dictate my actions is just not consistent with my purpose or vision! I decided I would no longer be a "creature of habit", instead I would live in alignment with the universal energy by consciously choosing my beliefs and thoughts and then living true to who I am. Bad habits would be removed from their core. Just as light eliminates darkness, awareness eliminates habit. This, dear reader, would be the beginning of a new journey for me, one that, ultimately, freed me from the relentless weight loss-weight gain roller-coaster, and gave me the ability to live joyfully in alignment with who I truly am.
2011 Ed Taylor
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MY PERSONAL AWAKENINGAs I'm starting to write this book I'm sitting on an airplane, in the middle seat, and I'm not overflowing onto my neighbors on each side- I feel thin. I'm not thin, I'm 219 pounds and my ideal weight is probably 180ish so I'm 30 plus pounds overweight yet I feel thin. Here's why, 8 months ago I was 299 pounds and one year before that I weighed 324. So I'm 105 pounds less than I was at my highest weight. (As I was writing this book I lost a little more weight but I was down 105 pounds when I started it.)
Ed Taylor AFTER at 215 Pounds
Looking back I can clearly see the 4 events that changed my path, my weight, my level of physical fitness and frankly, my
entire life. These 4 events lifted a fog that had been limiting my thinking. It's as if I had awoken from a hypnotic trance and a veil had been lifted allowing me to see more clearly than I even knew was possible. The first event was my wife, Lori, seeing her father's spirit in the months following his passing. He came to her very clearly, and I couldnt deny that this was real for her, and actually having a positive effect on her (this occurrence, and those that came after, seemed to truly comfort and reassure her), regardless of how strange it seemed to me, at the time. The second event was an unintended "psychic reading" I had. I happened to be scheduled to speak at a convention in Denver, and was browsing the vendor booths before my scheduled presentation. (By the way, I have been an Internet marketing consultant since 1995 and I've spoken to over 1,300 groups so this was not at all unusual for me.) I started visiting with a woman who was setting up her "aura photo" booth. Before long I was "sitting for a photo" and she was giving me a "reading." This was a first for me. I had never done anything like this. I was not "seeking" anything, spiritual or otherwise. I was just spending time before my presentation in conversation and the reading just happened. (It's interesting, isn't it, how some of the things that 'just happen' totally transform our lives.) I was very impressed with her reading, a bit skeptical, but yet impressed. As it turned out, Judy, this psychic aura photographer, was giving a presentation just before mine in the same room I was speaking so I decided to sit in on her session.
Ed Taylor BEFORE at 324 Pounds
2011 Ed Taylor
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Again, I was very impressed. Her presentation was incredibly professional and her personal story was extremely compelling. The "readings" she did with several of the audience members were confirmed by those she "read" for. It was as if room was being made in my mind for the possibility for something to exist that I just did not have an explanation for. The third event that "changed my path" was actually a sequence of events. My wife's experience seeing the "spirit" of her dad and my experience with the psychic got me thinking about all of this 'weird stuff' (or so I had precociously called it). So over the course of the next several months I bought, read and listened to many books on "spirit" and "energy." The more I learned the more room I had to learn more. As I look back I can clearly see the stepping stones, the building of knowledge on knowledge. The fourth event was simply a change in my thinking, more accurately, a change in my beliefs which resulted in a change in my thinking. I'll explain more about this in the following pages but changing my beliefs was a huge turning point for me and it is primarily responsible for my weight loss. Again, this "new path" that I'm on is very clear to me now, as I look back, but as I started this journey I had no idea where I was going. I had no idea I would lose more than 110 pounds and totally change my beliefs, my thinking and, really, who I am as a person. Who I was, both personally and physically... Just to give you a bit of personal background about me, I graduated high school in 1972. The hippie age was ending but after a year of work I took my savings and hitch hiked around the US and Canada back packing in the wilderness and working odd jobs. I married in '74 and became a longshoreman and commercial fisherman in Newport, Oregon. After a couple of years of that I moved to Eugene, Oregon and went into sales. My career has been in sales and marketing ever since. For the last 25 years I have been self employed as a consultant, service provider and professional speaker. As for my weight, before my "awakening," I bounced around between 290 and 320 pounds for about 15 years. Oh, I did go on the Atkins diet for several months in there and got into the 280's for a week or two but then climbed all the way to what became my all-time high weight of 324 pounds. I weighed between 260 and 290 for 10 or more years before that. The bottomline is this. I have been fat, very fat, for a very long time. I had gained weight almost every single year since I left the waterfront in 1976. What Changed? My beliefs, my thinking and my weight. In that order.
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I did not have a looming medical disaster. I wasn't given an ominous warning from my doctor to lose weight or else. Had I been given that type of warning I'm not sure what I would have done, I like to think I would have found a way to lose the weight, but I'm not sure; that's not my story. My "why" (I actually had two) is much more subtle, much less urgent, and for me, that was exactly what I needed. I hope my story, my journey, will be an inspiration and something of a guide or roadmap for you. My initial reason, my initial "why" is personal and a bit embarrassing. See, the initial reason I decided to get into shape had to do with my entire family: me, my wife, my son and my daughter... we were all fat and getting fatter. When my Lori and I married back in 1974 I was a bit heavy, I probably weighed close to 200 pounds. Remember, I said my ideal weight was closer to 180 pounds so I might have been 15 to 20 pounds overweight, I was in pretty good shape though, I was physically active, and a bit stocky, in a football player kind of way. Lori had the perfect build, by far the best body of any of my prior girlfriends (sorry to prior girlfriends who may be reading this). I don't know how much she weighed but she was very athletic, firm and carried herself with all of the confidence a guy like me was looking for. As the years passed, we both put on weight. I put on more and sooner than her; but as the years passed, she began to catch up to me. My 21 year old daughter, who is attending a university, was also overweight and so was my 30 year old son. Here's the bottom line of the "why": Over the course of a few months (at the same time I was being exposed to the psychic stuff). I started noticing and becoming aware of a feeling I was having about my weight and the weight of all of my family members. The word "sloth" kept coming into my mind, which was incredibly bizarre; because, I don't ever use that word! I thought it meant "being lazy" but I looked it up, because I wasn't totally sure. I found out it means- "the avoidance of physical or spiritual work." Hmmm... I had been avoiding both. You can't call the act of being a consultant or a professional speaker "physical." In fact, I used to tell people I was a "talker not a doer." And I hadn't given a thought to anything spiritual since my teens and early twenties. In my adult life, in other words, I had never done any "spiritual work."
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So my initial "why" had to do with this awareness I was developing. I wanted to end the "sloth phase" of my life. I also hoped the other members of my family would be inspired by my new path. I did not have any idea what this meant. It was just an awareness I had. My "second why" was more self-centered and a bit more mysterious. As I was thinking and studying about spirit and energy, I, for the first time ever, began to put trust and faith, into a universal energy. This may sound bizarre to you, as it would have sounded bizarre to me a few years ago... but I now believe: 1) there is a "universal energy;" 2) that we, as humans, actually are, essentially, made up of this universal, eternal energy, which is separate and distinct from our bodies; 3) we are, each of us human beings, like unique, individual waves on the ocean of universal energy; and 4) each of us waves of universal energy is what many people call a spirit. I have come to believe we each are a unique energy (spirits, souls or whatever you want to call it) that is here on earth within our bodies right now having a "human experience". I have also come to believe that we owe it to our true selves, to our eternal energy, to have our human body in good condition so we can get the most spiritually out of our human experience. Let me repeat this because this is a HUGE turning point for meI believe our energies (our TRUE selves) are here on earth within our bodies right now having a human experience and we owe it to our true selves, our eternal energy, to have our human body in good condition to get the most spiritually out of our human experience. As soon as I accepted the belief that my body is not myself, that I am the universal energy inhabiting this body, everything changed for me. As soon as I accepted the belief that I'm a small entity connected to a much larger entity I felt relieved. I felt a quiet connectedness, a calm feeling. I also felt like I owed it to my 'inner self', what I am now calling my TRUE self, to treat my body with respect. As this newfound sense of true self worth was developing, what kept coming to mind was the old saying, "The body is the temple of the Spirit.. I had heard that saying but I wasn't sure where or in what context. But given what I was experiencing, I began recognizing that, if it was actually true, a readiness and
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willingness to make some changes would demonstrate my commitment to respecting my temple and my spirit! Please note: I do not personally believe there are any negative consequences to your spirit if you let your body go to hell in a hand basket so to speak. I do, however, believe it IS BETTER for your spiritual journey if your body is well maintained and cared for. This just makes sense to me. (And by the way, that's what this whole book is about; finding things that "just make sense to you" and then living true to them.) So as I started making conscious changes in my beliefs I had two primary "whys." 1. I wanted to end my sloth, while setting an example for my family. 2. I believed getting my body healthier was better for my spiritual journey. I also had two additional "whys" in the back of my mind when I started and as I continued on my path they seemed to become more important to me. 3. I wanted to become more congruent in my life, by acting more consistently with my beliefs and values. 4. I wanted to regain some long-lost fitness, lose some aches and pains and do some of the physical things that I had let slip away over the years. MY DISCOVERY As I alluded to it in the poem, It Was All in My Head (at the opening of this book), I "went on" dozens of diets over the years only to "go off" and become heavier than I was when I started. I have set goals and used "will power" for years, for decades, only to be disappointed with my results. Worse, I was not only disappointed in my results, I was losing confidence in my ability to lose weight and keep it off. I eventually got to the point where Id started thinking; "What's wrong with me?" Why can't I do this? Why don't I have the will power, the determination, the stick-to-itiveness to lose weight and keep it off? I now have the answer to those questions. NOTHING was wrong with me, and I COULD lose weight and keep it off! I have now lost 110 pounds!!! I had just been using the WRONG STRATEGY! Sure, I could muster up enough "will power" to be "on a diet" for a while. Here's the problem. When I went "on" a diet, any diet, I ultimately went "off" the diet. When I went "off the diet" what do you suppose happened?
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I gradually (or sometimes very quickly) gravitated back to the way I had always eaten. I went back on "my plan." And what happened next? I gained back all of the weight I had lost . . . and often more. Why? Because my plan sucked!!! Sound familiar? I'm probably telling your story, too. Here's what I have discovered to be true for me (and maybe you can relate): Diets don't work Will power doesn't work Discipline doesn't work Exercise doesn't work Here's what happened that worked for me (and Im hopeful youll find this to be true for you, as well): I changed my beliefs I changed my thinking and Everything changed I'm a 56-year-old man who made a simple, personal discovery and lost 110 pounds! Period. Just to be clear, I'm not a doctor, nutritionist, scientist or theologian. I have no qualifications to dispense any type of medical, dietary or nutritional advice. The only qualification I have to write this book is my result. I lost 110 pounds, I'm keeping it off, and I'm in the best shape Ive enjoyed in decades! That said, this is NOT really a "diet" book. This is a book about beliefs and thinking, and how by changing my beliefs and my thinking, I lost a lot of weight and I'm keeping it off. Now you don't have to believe anything I just said for this book and program to work for you. The bottom line is this: To make a permanent change in your weight and your fitness (or anything else) you must start by making a change in your THINKING!!! I discovered that by simply changing a few of my beliefs and some of my thoughts, the way I ate and moved totally changed. What I'm calling my "spiritual awakening" was one of my "whys" (i.e., why I needed to change). It was a very compelling "why" for me, and I actually do believe you, too, should have a very compelling why. But your why does not need to have to do with anything spiritual or being a role model for your family. Maybe you have a looming medical issue and really need to lose weight; or maybe you just want to fit into a smaller size of pants; or maybe you don't want to take up two airplane seats.
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Whatever your "why" is, that's what you need to identify first. Second, you need to change your thinking. The best part is this: Changing your thinking is simple, fun and absolutely empowering. For me the starting point was to "re-think" some of my thinking and some of my beliefs. And I suggest that is where you start. As I was working on this book, I identified the process I went through. I now call the process the HALO Method. Following the HALO Method is responsible for me losing 110 pounds and getting into the best shape I have been in for several decades. But much more than that, this process has also helped me become more "centered," more relaxed, more thoughtful... and more in alignment with my "True Self." The 4 elements of the HALO Method are: 1. Head Beliefs - Consciously developing beliefs that are supported by your current understanding and that support your desired life path. Thoughts - Replace habitual thought with conscious thought that is consistent with your beliefs. 2. Actualization Thinking, Acting and Living in Harmony with Your Beliefs. 3. Lucid Living Being Conscious . . . Free Yourself from Habitual Thinking and Impulsive Actions. 4. Ongoing - Living in Harmony with Your Beliefs and Values.
Each of the elements in the HALO Method are important . . . but the first two, Head and Actualization are the underpinning of it all. They are the foundation the other two are built upon. For me, the HALO Method allowed me to re-think who I was, what I believed, and what I valued. I now aim to live in harmony with this new, clearer vision of "me."
(Obviously, if your health care professional is advising you to immediately change your diet, do it. But I would still suggest you go through this process to realign your underlying beliefs and thoughts.)
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It is important for you to have a fundamental understanding of the personal philosophy and belief system out of which arose the HALO Method, in order for you to get the most out of it. So, I have liberally distributed the basic elements of this philosophy and belief system throughout the pages that follow. I have also developed a website for you to explore the HALO Method further at: www. AskEdTaylor.com. This website contains much more information, videos and coaching, all relating to the successful application of The Halo Method in daily life. We are even building a community for ongoing support, and much more! I want to credit James Allen who wrote the literary classic, As A Man Thinketh, which was originally published in 1902. His book opens with the statement: Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes, And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills, Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills: He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass: Environment is but his looking-glass.
I first read As A Man Thinketh many years ago. I found it interesting, but not life changing. Now, looking back and re-reading it, I find it profound. If you would like to read this timeless classic, I have a FREE copy for you at AskEdTaylor.com If you would like more guidance, or if you would simply like to join a community of others on this path, go to: AskEdTaylor.com and enroll in the free 30 day ecourse.
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Section 1
Head
DEVELOP YOUR OWN BELIEF SYSTEM
The ancestor of every action is a thought. Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson "Be silent about great things, let them grow inside you." -- Freidrich von Hugel
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Chapter 1
BELIEFS- Changing My Beliefs Changed My Life

I was fat for many years. Why? Conventional wisdom would provide 3 answers: 1. I ate too much. 2. I ate the wrong foods. 3. I didn't exercise enough. All three of the above are absolutely true, but they are NOT the whole truth. I did, at times, eat too much, I did, again at times, eat the wrong foods, and I did not exercise enough, ever. BUT, now I know THESE 3 THINGS WERE NOT THE CAUSE of my being fat. Here's the REAL CAUSE of my obesity: MY BELIEFS. For example: I believed I deserved to eat what I wanted, when I wanted. I worked hard and I had earned it. I was entitled to reward myself with food. I now know that as long as I believed I was deserving, I was at the mercy of outside conditions (like a stressful job); and as long as I was at the mercy of outside conditions, I would be a victim of my circumstances. You see, somewhere over the course of my life, I had learned (i.e., adopted the belief) that I deserved to reward myself by eating what I wanted when I wanted. Can you relate at all to this? Now, don't take this wrong, I was conscientious most of the time. I didn't always want steaks and baked potatoes with the works, and cake and ice cream. I wanted granola (but lots of granola), whole wheat bran muffins, and yes, bacon cheese burgers on occasion; but I was not a raging, out-of-control foodaholic. I was just eating what I wanted when I wanted. Over time, this eating pattern just kept adding pounds of fat to my body, regardless of the quality of the food I was consuming. The key to the above paragraph is in the first sentence- "I had LEARNED..." Alvin Toffler the distinguished futurist, once said, The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cant read or write, but those who cannot learn, UNLEARN and relearn.
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Unlearning is the process of challenging your existing belief system. To consciously change your thinking, you must bring your unconscious belief system to the surface, question it, keep some, get rid of some, then RELEARN (clarify what is true) and REHABITUATE (establish the new belief as your norm). Every belief we have -- whether the belief supports weight loss or weight gain -will ultimately result in thoughts. Our thoughts will result in our actions (or inactions) and these actions (or in-actions) will produce the circumstances we experience in our lives. Healthy beliefs produce healthy actions, unhealthy beliefs produce unhealthy actions. Beliefs that support weight gain produce weight gain. Beliefs that support a fit and lean body produce a lean and fit body. I know this sounds incredibly simple, and it is; but it is also profound. Belief is the foundation of thought: what we believe determines what we think. When I understood this tiny distinction, everything began to change for me. The "destiny of our lives" lies within ourselves. Its in the energy of our thoughts. Our destiny, including our weight, is determined by the energy produced and attracted by what we choose to believe and what we think. In the paragraph above, I mentioned the "energy of our thoughts." This is an incredibly important concept. Our thoughts are energy, i.e., they are energy forms expressed out of our core beliefs in response to whatever were focusing on in our environment (and that includes both our outer and inner environments). And naturally enough, the energy of our thoughts affects our physical bodies. If you need scientific evidence in order to adopt that belief, I highly recommend that you read Dr. Bruce Lipton's book, The Biology of Belief. Dr. Lipton is a former medical school professor and research scientist. His research shows that genes and DNA do not control our biology, as has commonly been held. Instead, his studies have demonstrated, DNA is controlled by signals from outside the cell, including the energetic messages emanating from our thoughts. Dr. Liptons research shows that our bodies can be changed as we retrain our thinking. As long as I continued to hold "limiting beliefs" (e.g. It's normal to gain weight as I get older), maintained negative thoughts about "dieting" (e.g. I live in abundance. I can eat what I want when I want.), and held "reasons" for my weight and eating patterns, I was stuck. I was doomed. Those head beliefs would forever be in conflict with my hearts desire to lose weight.
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Once I really "got it," I understood that my beliefs and my thoughts (and the energy produced by my thoughts) were the result of CHOICES I made . . . and I could choose new beliefs and new thoughts at any time. As soon as I started doing so, my life began to change! As I identified and chose beliefs and thoughts that supported the ideal "vision" I have of myself, my actions changed automatically. Once my actions changed, my weight began to change, again, automatically. I'm not saying we get what we want simply by wishing, hoping and dreaming. Our wishes, hopes and dreams are only gratified and answered when they are in harmony with our beliefs and thoughts (and ultimately our actions). Here's an example of what I mean: For years, I believed that I deserved to eat what I wanted when I wanted. I was entitled to this big bowl of ice cream, chocolate sauce and nuts. During this time, I wished I would lose weight. I hoped I would lose weight. I even dreamt I would lose weight. But did I? Of course not. Why not? Because of my 'limiting belief' (I deserved), converted into thought (a big bowl of ice cream sounds good) which transformed into an action (eating the ice cream), which resulted in a re-action (gaining weight). It's all very simple, very logical and quite predictable. Diets focus on the last step in this process, the eating. The real solution, at least for me, was in focusing on the 'root of the problem,' which was my beliefs and my thinking. Does this make sense to you? This just seems so obvious to me now. Another very common 'limiting belief' is "Im too busy." It's true, isn't it? We are busy. So, its very easy to believe we are so busy, we just can't take the time to eat better or work out regularly. I call these 'limiting beliefs,' because they put a limit on our accomplishments. These types of beliefs undermine our actions and, most importantly, they are not true!!! Perhaps more accurately, they are only true if you DECIDE they are. I'm sure you know someone who is just as busy as you are, perhaps even busier, who still finds time to work out. Say, the President of the United States? I'm sure you can find dozens, hundreds, even thousands of people who have as many of the responsibilities in their lives that you are "blaming" for your "lack of doing" in yours, and yet they do get these things done. They eat better. They exercise more, etc. Why?
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The answer is simple- they BELIEVE differently than you do; therefore, they think differently than you do; and ultimately they act differently than you do. As long as we are "fighting against circumstances" by laying the blame on being busy, or being stressed, or feeling deserving, or anything else, then we are fighting against an outside effect; while all the while, we are nourishing and preserving its cause in our heart and in our mind. This is a sure recipe for failure and frustration. That "cause in our hearts and minds" may take the form of a conscious vice, like drinking, or an unconscious weakness, like bad food choices. Whatever it is, it prevents us from being in alignment with our core beliefs and values. Being out of alignment with our beliefs, thoughts and actions prevents us from attracting and maintaining the circumstances we truly want in our lives. In fact, being out of alignment prevents us from becoming the people we truly want to become. When we are "fighting against circumstances," our thoughts create actions that undermine our true desires. Can you think of a time this has happened in your life? Think about how simple this is to change. We are often eager to improve our circumstances, but unaware that we need to improve our beliefs and our thinking before our circumstances will improve; therefore, we continue to get the result we have always gotten. For decades, I vacillated between wanting to lose weight and get in shape, and "acceptance," just being OK with being fat. When I wanted to lose weight, I went on diets, many diets; but I didn't change my beliefs and my thinking. The result was I would go off the diet, and add more and more weight, as the years of failed diets and faulty thinking passed. For years, I thought having a positive mental attitude, being disciplined and working harder (i.e., exerting more "will power") toward the attainment of my goals was the way to success at anything. I now know that the way to true success, at least for me, was getting clear about who I am and what I believe, then living in harmony with my innermost beliefs and values. I still believe having a positive mental attitude, having discipline, being consistent, etc. are all important; but it's much more important, more foundational, to live true to who I am, in harmony with my core beliefs and values. What is important to note, as we go forward, is that, while we may be aiming at a good end, we often frustrate ourselves by giving our attention over to thoughts
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and underlying beliefs which cannot possibly harmonize with that end. I spent decades doing this! It was all very subconscious at the time; but now it is clear. Here are the 7 Starting Steps of the HALO Method 1. Soul Searching -- Going internal, self-analysis, being introspective, meditating... Whatever you want to call it; the objective is to take some time and think about who you are. Think about your beliefs. Think about why you believe what you believe. Question your beliefs. Think about "universal energy" and your relationship to it. Think about how "energy" or spirit relates to your physical self. While you are at it, take some time to meditate (or learn how to meditate, if youre unfamiliar with meditation). To me, meditating requires an absence of thinking. It requires quieting the thinking mind and allowing peacefulness and wisdom to bubble up from the soul. Relax. Breathe. Daydream. Allow yourself to transcend (go beyond) thought, in order to simply be who you are, or (at least) explore who you are without attachment to past beliefs or thoughts about yourself. 2. Understand What Beliefs Are -- Beliefs MAY be true, or they may be false; in general, we don't know for certain. We CHOOSE to believe whether something is true or false. An example might be your last name. You may have been told your entire life that your name is your name, and that your parents were your parents; only to discover as an adult that you were adopted and you were never told! You spent years believing with all of your heart and mind that something was true; only to later discover it was not true. Believing, accepting things on faith, is how we keep information organized in our minds. We cannot empirically "prove" everything; therefore, there are many, many things we just accept on faith, things we just believe to be one way or another. Once I understood that beliefs are not truths, it was much easier for me to accept that I could easily change my beliefs. As you begin to re-think who you are, and what your true purpose is, you may discover some of the beliefs you currently have do not support the vision of who you really are, or who you would like to become. The good news, though, is this: YOU can change your beliefs! I did, and then, everything changed for me.
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3. Identify and Eliminate Your "Limiting Beliefs" -- I identified some beliefs that just did not serve me well. One such belief for me had to do with "spirit." I went through many years as a "non-believer." If science couldn't prove it, I didn't believe it, period. I now realize there are many, many things science couldn't explain a few years ago, which now are "known facts." Were people who believed these things in advance of them being scientifically proven wrong? Of course not, they were simply ahead of their time. Well, I'm choosing to see myself as ahead of my time by believing "that spirit exists and equates with the universal energy providing the foundation of all creation" and science just isn't yet able to connect the dots. Two of the "limiting beliefs" I eliminated were: 'There is no power greater than myself' and 'There is no bigger purpose for my existence.' The first belief held me in the position of feeling I was responsible for and therefore must control everything (and everyone), while the second belief left me, ultimately, unchallenged and bored. 4. Choose and Add New "Empowering Beliefs" -- I eliminated (which simply means I changed my mind about) my limiting beliefs (e.g. that 'There is no power greater than myself') and replaced the old beliefs with new, empowering beliefs (e.g. that There IS a power greater than myself.) This now allows space for me to evaluate spiritual beliefs rather than universally dismissing them. Making these simple distinctions about my old and my new, more empowering beliefs was huge for me! It inspired me to re-think many of the old adages I had heard for years. Old chestnuts like, "Your body is your temple" took on new meaning for me. And the result was changing my actions. I began to eat and move differently. 5. Accept Infinite Energy -- I have found that having a purpose "bigger than myself" has been very empowering and liberating. Accepting that I am an energetic being having a human experience gives me purpose and comfort. It's difficult to explain but I feel more contented in an internal way. I feel more whole. I have now taken this acceptance way beyond where I started. The more I think about and study the field of spirit and energy, the more my beliefs expand in this area and it continually becomes easier for me to stay true to my values and live in harmony with the "true" me. 6. Accept Your Greater Life Purpose -- Adopting the belief that my human experience has a purpose that has to do with the evolution of my soul/spirit was transformational for me; in that I began believing my body really is MY
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temple. I say this, not for the sake of a religion or some other collective; rather, believing for MY OWN spiritual sake has been incredibly empowering. I'm not on a diet and exercise plan, I'm now eating and moving in ways that support the evolution of my soul. This is a HUGE distinction! 7. Establish Your Vision of the "Ideal You" -- The difference between a vision and a goal is that a goal is a task you want to accomplish, usually with incremental steps and measurements. A vision is something you are inspired by and you simply move towards it. Goals can motivate or un-motivate (e.g. it was not very motivating at age 35 to eat cottage cheese and tomatoes so I might live 5 years longer.), but a vision ALWAYS inspires. Once my beliefs were well grounded in a "bigger picture," I started thinking about my life, my purpose, my responsibilities and my body differently. I suppose you could say I started thinking about almost everything differently. I came to believe my feelings, my gut reactions, could actually be signals or communications, from a higher energy. Once I began to believe in universal energy and the importance of being connected with my "spirit," it became very easy to maintain my thinking and my actions in accordance with my new beliefs. Now let's take this a step further...
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Chapter 2
Changing My Thoughts Changed My Body
Our conscious thoughts create a sub-conscious awareness which makes us aware of circumstances, things and people who can help us most!
Obtaining and maintaining the "right attitude" . . . or using the right self talk, whatever you want to call it . . . was vitally important to my weight loss success. But, having a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) by itself is not nearly enough! I was first exposed to "PMA" when I was in junior high school. My dad subscribed to "Success" magazine ("Success Unlimited" at the time) for what seemed like my whole life and I loved it. I read all the stories about successful salespeople, entrepreneurs and business people, all of them attributing their success to their positive mental attitude. I was so enamored by this type of information that, in my 20's, I became a distributor of Nightingale Conant audio tapes; not because I wanted to sell the tapes, but because I was buying so many for my own personal use, that it was a better value for me to become a distributor so I could by them at wholesale! In my 30's and early 40's, I created a company that helped market seminars for many of the country's top motivational speakers. My company helped promote hundreds of seminars, and in the process, I had the opportunity to meet and spend many personal hours with: Tony Robbins Jim Rohn Brian Tracy Wayne Dyer Dennis Waitly Harv Eker Deepak Chopra Tom Hopkins Jay Abraham Todd Duncan Susan Powter Dan Pena Frank Maguire Michael Gerber . . .
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. . . and dozens of other self-help experts and coaching gurus. I mention these people because, being leading experts in their fields, I learned a lot from each of them. I saw the help they brought to so many. I directly experienced how their advice and inspiration helped me in my business and in my personal development. But still, I was overweight, way overweight! I have spent many, many hours with Tony Robbins; and I know he would say that I never made losing weight a "must" in my life. It was forever a "should." I knew I should lose weight, but it was not a must that I lose weight. Looking back, he was absolutely right. I can see now that Id been thinking and believing I was in the same zone I was in when I was young. I didn't necessarily feel invincible; but I felt strong, and was vibrantly making my mark on the world. Sure, I was overweight; but I was eating well, and simply living on my own terms. Living large. Ill get into shape when I have more time, I thought. Oh, what a trap that was. My highest values, back then, were freedom, self-reliance and fun. I wanted to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. That is, no doubt, why I gravitated toward sales and entrepreneurship. I wanted control of how I spent my time and who I spent my time with, including who I worked with. Unfortunately, I was not thinking and believing in accord with reality. I was thinking and believing I could ignore basic principles of eating, exercise (or lack thereof) and weight gain: put x number of calories into a body without any regular exercise and continue holding a devil may care attitude = weight gain. It really is a simple recipe, if you think about it. But the point is, I thought my way into the actions (or non-actions, in the case of exercise) that led to my weight gain. By the way, I was an above average salesperson. I like people and people like me. My enthusiasm is contagious; this is not contrived or some sales tactic -- it's just the way I am now, and pretty much the way Ive always have been. I was NOT a very good businessperson. I wanted to be good at it. I tried numerous times to build successful businesses -- each ended, however, with me in debt, feeling a bit ashamed and humiliated. Anyway, what I now know is this: having a positive attitude and enthusiasm for what you want is not enough. It's not NEARLY enough. THE ENERGY OF THOUGHT I have come to understand that our thoughts also have an energetic element. If you are skeptical about this, or if you would just like to understand the science behind it, I highly recommend that you read Dr. Bruce Lipton's book, The Biology
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of Belief. I also have a video of Dr. Lipton explaining this process at AskEdTaylor.com. Thought is made up of energy, and this energy actually affects the biology of our bodies. Our innermost desires and aspirations do, actually, physically affect the outer conditions of our lives. Being overweight and out of shape was not in my DNA. I became overweight, because I allowed myself to continually have thoughts that resulted in actions (or inactions), which eventually led to my being overweight and out of shape. I found that as I changed my thoughts towards circumstances and people, circumstances and people changed towards me. The proof of this truth (i.e., thoughts have energy) is easily recognizable in me, as it is in every person. Indeed, with a little introspection and self-analysis, I think you will find it easy to see in yourself. Many people imagine that their thoughts can be kept secret, but they cannot; the energy within thoughts rapidly crystallizes into habit, and habits solidify into circumstances. Lets take a deeper look into this: Disempowering thoughts and limiting beliefs crystallize into bad habits, which eventually solidify into problematic, distressing circumstances. Hopefully, youll readily see that this makes sense. On the other hand, inspiring, empowering thoughts (of all kinds) crystallize into good, healthy, life-affirming habits, which eventually solidify into rewarding, upbeat circumstances. Pure thoughts crystallize into habits of self-control and an effortless restraint, which eventually solidify into circumstances hallmarked by mastery, relaxation and peace. Thoughts of courage, self-reliance, and decisions fueled by resolve crystallize into positive, progressive habits, which eventually solidify into circumstances of success, abundance and greater freedom. Gentle and forgiving thoughts crystallize into habits of tenderness and a natural sensitivity, which eventually solidify into nurturing, protective and life-preserving circumstances. Loving and unselfish thoughts crystallize into habits of giving to and support of others, which eventually solidify into circumstances of the spirit of brotherhood and true community.
Any particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results in a person's character and on their circumstances.
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We cannot directly choose our circumstances, but we can choose our thoughts (or at least the thoughts we put our attention on); and so indirectly, yet surely, we can shape our circumstances. My "circumstances," my family, my crazy schedule, my stresses, etc. did not MAKE me gain weight. My being overweight and out of shape merely REVEALED to me the results produced by my thoughts. Your current circumstances do not MAKE you the person you are. Your current circumstances merely REVEAL to you the person your thoughts have caused you to become. Please do not be disheartened by this. This recognition is an essential element in change. Years ago, I read a great book, "Mans Search for Meaning" by Dr. Viktor Frankl. The book chronicles Dr. Frankl's experiences as a concentration camp inmate during WW II, and describes his way of finding a reason to live. Frankl determined that the meaning of life is found in every moment of living; life never ceases to have meaning, in other words . . . even in suffering and death. Frankl believed that for everyone in a dire condition, there is someone looking down, a friend, family member, or even God, who would expect not to be disappointed. Frankl concludes from his experience that a prisoner's psychological reactions are not solely the result of the conditions of his life; but also from the freedom of choice he always has, even in circumstances of unimaginable suffering. The inner hold a prisoner has on his/her spiritual self is based upon having faith in the future; and once a prisoner loses that faith, he/she is doomed. (You will find a terrific, inspiring video of an interview with Dr. Frankl on AskEdTaylor.com) Dr. Frankl said, Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our ability to choose our response. In that choice lies our growth and our freedom. Changing your thinking, or interpretations of external events e.g., "Ive worked hard, so I deserve to eat whatever I want" -- is all about creating that buffer space between stimulus (working hard and getting things done) and response (eating because I deserve it), and consciously putting a new filter in place (eating healthy food vs. junk food or taking time to take a walk) as a reward. Again, your current circumstances do not make you the person you are. Your current circumstances merely reveal to you (and others) the person you have become.
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Once we wake up to our current circumstances and become aware of our beliefs and thoughts, we can then snap out of our hypnotic acceptance of societal conformity, the influences of marketing and habit. When you understand that your beliefs are the foundation of your thoughts and your thoughts determine your actions and your actions determine your circumstances, everything will change for you. It is incredibly exciting and empowering to understand that your circumstances do not make you the person you are; rather, the person you are makes your circumstances. We do not attract that which we want in our lives; we attract that which our lives are. We become what we believe and what we think. BEWARE - Your ambitions, your wants, your desires can be stopped cold at every step by your thoughts. AND... our current circumstances can be totally transformed and tremendously improved by simply changing our thinking. The "Law of Thought" is this: Good thoughts can never produce bad results; bad thoughts can never produce good results, and it's a safe bet that continuing your current thoughts will continue to produce your current results. When I say good or bad thoughts, I don't mean saintly or evil thoughts, and I don't mean wishful thinking or repeating positive affirmations. By good thoughts, I simply mean thoughts that support who you want to become; and by bad thoughts, I mean thoughts that don't support -- and therefore undermine -- who you want to become. This "Law of Thought" is like saying nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from wheat but wheat. We understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but it seems few people understand it in the mental and spiritual world (though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating). Most people, therefore, do not co-operate with it, and suffer the consequences. Being overweight and out of shape is the result of our beliefs and thoughts. These beliefs and thoughts determine what we eat and how we move. Going "on a diet" does not change your underlying beliefs and thoughts, and that, oftentimes, is the root of the problem. It's why most diets fail for most people most of the time. Diets don't change who we are; they only change what we eat... for a while. Sooner or later, who we are wins out over will-power, and we revert to our old habits and patterns of behavior. True, lasting change is the result of changing who we are, what we believe and what we think.
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Being overweight and out of shape can be an indication that we are out of harmony with our self and the Law of Thought. At the same time, being a "fitness junkie" could also be an indication that we are out of harmony with our self. Being a "fitness junkie" and being "morbidly obese" are the two extremes of being out of balance. They are both equally unnatural, and both produce undesirable results. I also believe people can be overweight and out of shape and still be in harmony with who they are. I believe I was in that place for several years. For long periods of time, I was content with being overweight, even though I was over by 40, 50, 60 or more pounds. Our quest, I believe, is for personal fulfillment and contentment, which I define as being happy, healthy, and prosperous; and happiness, health, and prosperity are phenomena that, ultimately, can only be defined by each person. Fulfillment and contentment are the result of an alignment of the inner with the outer; the inner being beliefs and thoughts, the outer being actions and circumstances. One persons beliefs and thoughts about being prosperous is another person's beliefs and thoughts about poverty. Imagine how Donald Trump or Bill Gates would feel if their net worth was only $10,000,000. However, how would you feel if your net worth was $10,000,000? The same is true with health. One persons beliefs and thoughts might be that they would feel healthy if they could just walk around the block, while another person must be able to run a marathon to feel healthy. The ideal weight for one person may be quite different from the ideal weight for another person. As it pertains to most aspects of life, fulfillment and contentment are the result of being in harmony. If you want to lose weight, you are not in harmony with your inner and your outer self. If you feel that you should lose weight, you are out of harmony. If you are content with your weight, you are in harmony. This is pretty simple stuff. You can get into harmony by either changing the inner (your thoughts) or your outer (your circumstances). If you are fat and you just are not going to change anything in your life, no worries; just adopt the belief that fat is how you are intended to be and be it. Be fat and happy! At least that way, youll be content and in harmony. But, and this is a big but (no pun intended), if you catch yourself feeling a bit embarrassed when you can't fit in a seat, or can't do an activity that others are doing, you may not be in true harmony. Be aware of your true feelings.
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You don't have to fit in anyone else's vision of you; you must only be in harmony with your beliefs, your thoughts, your values, your surroundings and your circumstances. That is fulfillment. That is contentment. That is success. As I began to understand that my thoughts and my beliefs are the factors that determine my circumstances, I stopped blaming outside affects for my current situation (at the time I was more than 100 pounds overweight and way out of shape), and I began to build myself up with strong and empowering thoughts. I stopped fighting against circumstances, and I began to use my circumstances as an aid to speed up my progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within myself. If I had NOT allowed myself to become more than 100 pounds overweight, I may have never learned this magnificent truth. Interesting, eh? (i.e, Im not holding negative thoughts about this fact). Your current circumstance, your current weight, can be the catalyst for you to see firsthand how the power of your thoughts can dramatically improve the quality of your life. I recommend that you become thankful for your current circumstances . . . and really mean it. If you are way overweight and massively out of shape, then you are in a unique position. The contrast between where you are now, both mentally and physically, and where you can be in a few short months can be huge. This is your "before." Your "after" can be vastly different, and that contrast can be very inspiring and life changing. NEXT, I started thinking about my actions. How much of what I ate was the result of conscious thought . . . and how much was a result of marketing, conditioning and habit.
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Section 2
Actions
"Beliefs lead to values, which lead to thoughts, which lead to actions (or something like that). Ed Taylor "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." Henry David Thoreau
"Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from achievement of one's values." Ayn Rand
"The wise win without a fight, while the ignorant fight so that they can win." Sun Tzu
"It can be really offputting when you lose your way somehow." Winnie the Pooh
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Chapter 3
The Inner Workings of Weight Loss: Reflections on the roles of faith, universal laws and free will
It is the unseen and the spiritual in people that determines the outward and the actual. - Thomas Carlyle I mentioned earlier that my weight loss actually began with soul-searching and thinking about my beliefs and values. I was giving a lot of thought to spirit, God and faith. I had always considered myself a rather rational person. And I still consider myself a rational person; but I now have a different understanding about faith. Not long ago, I read Erich Fromm's 1956 classic, The Art of Loving. In this book, Fromm provides unique insights into the subject of faith. Fromm did not believe that faith is in opposition to reason or rational thinking. To the contrary, he simply made a distinction between rational faith and irrational faith. He believed that irrational faith is based on ones submission to irrational authority or the collective. But rational faith, he said, is derived from one's own observations, judgments and convictions. Fromm believed creative thinking begins with a "rational vision," a vision that results from study, reflective thinking, and observation. Rational faith, then, is an important component of creative thought. Trust in yourself and know the person you really are will not change with changing circumstances. If we lose faith in who we are, we become dependent on others. Then, a tendency emerges to change who we are to gain the approval of others. With confidence in your beliefs and in your values and a reason, a compelling reason, to live true to your beliefs and values you begin to act in alignment with your beliefs. This changes everything. What Fromm did not address head on was faith in God or a higher power. Is it rational or irrational faith to believe in God? The atheist would say it is irrational. The believer would come down on the side of rational. But the believer could just as easily say the atheist's viewpoint is based on irrational faith; faith, perhaps, that the universe somehow created itself.
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In truth, both an atheist and one who believes in God or a higher power can have rational faith in their beliefs, so long as those beliefs are based on study, reflective thinking, and observation. I agree with Viktor Frankl's view that there is probably not much difference between an atheist and an individual who believes in God. It's probably more a matter of semantics than fanatical people on both sides might believe. If you can't believe, if you can't accept anything on faith, rational faith, then you're doomed for a life dominated by doubt and uncertainty. Allowing myself the rational belief that my inner me, my spirit, is here having this human experience so it, my soul, can evolve and learn made me understand that my body is the temple of my soul and I do it "owe it" to my spirit self to take good care of my body. This was one of the things that made it very easy for me to change how I was treating my body. So, whether it's faith in God, faith in yourself, faith in your spouse, faith in a friend, faith in your future, faith that your cell phone or brakes in your car will work, or faith in a higher power, I believe faith is an important part of the human experience, including what we value, what beliefs we hold, how we treat ourselves and others. Even ones self-perception, sense of self-worth and purpose, and inclination to feel secure within oneself, comfortable within ones own skin, without overeating. Rational faith. Of all the information pertaining to "spirit," "universal energy," "manifesting," etc. that has been discussed, written about and brought to light in recent years, none is more profound than this the notion that we are the masters of our thoughts, the molder of our characters, and the makers and shapers of our conditions, environment, our destinies and, yes, even our bodies. I now believe and have faith in a universal energy which I define as: A vital force or energy that transcends time and space; permeates all things in the universe, and upon which all things depend for health and life. I also believe and have faith that there are universal laws (or spiritual principles, laws of nature, etc.) that pertain to this energy. For example I believe this energy is what connects all living things to one another and to the source. It makes sense to me that when one lives in alignment with this and other allpervasive universal laws, one tends to enjoy greater support from the universe. And, having that support, one feels more at home in the universe . . . again, less inclined to crave outside substances (esp. food) to feel O.K. inside. I believe there are "energy beings" (angels, spirits, deceased loved ones, ascended masters, Gods helpers), whatever you want to call them. I also believe, and have faith, that these "energy beings" can provide guidance to us, if we are sensitive to them, if were attentive to signs being offered up to bring us
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or keep us in greater alignment with the universal laws that support our greatest good. That said, I also believe in free will. While I believe it is possible for people with enough sensitivity to receive guidance and direction from God through a variety of "energy beings," I also believe we individually make our own choices and create our own earthly destinies. We, by free will, set the course for our own destinies. We can listen to spirit/God/universal energy, and we can recognize the "taps on the shoulder" . . . or not. I'm reminded of the old story...
A man heard a warning on the radio that his peaceful little valley and his home were about to be flooded; and that he needed to get out of there immediately. However, this man thought to himself, "No, I don't have to leave. God will to take care of me." Then the flood starts to rise and a sheriff comes along and tells him to get out. The man says to the sheriff, "No, sir, God will take care of me." The flood waters continue to rise, and he climbs on top of the house. A boat comes along and offers to take him to safety. Again he says, "No, no , God will take care of me." Finally, a helicopter comes along and they lower the net to rescue him. The man yells up to the rescue team, "No, no, God will take care of me!" Well, eventually the floodwaters rise so high that the man drowns and goes to heaven. When he gets to heaven, he says to God, "Why didn't you save me?" God says, "I gave you a warning on the radio, I sent the sheriff, I sent a boat, and I sent a helicopter. What more did you want me to do?"
We all have free will. We can choose to listen to, follow and live in harmony with our guidance, beliefs and values, nudgings from universal law . . . or not. The circumstances of our lives will be determined by our choices and our decisions. We choose what we believe and what we think. Our beliefs and thoughts guide our actions. Our actions determine our circumstances and our destiny. What you eat and how you move are actions, are they not? And they are determined by what you believe and think. Understanding this process is life changing.
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We hold the key to every situation, and contain within ourselves the transforming and regenerative power by which we may make ourselves what we will. We are always the master, even in our weakest and most depressed states; but in our weakness and depression, it is easy to become a foolish master. We can allow ourselves to let limiting beliefs and unsupportive thoughts slip into our minds and run wild, clouding our judgment. We can give in to weakness, habit and our old conditioning. I believe that being out of alignment -- not maintaining the thoughts and actions that are consistent with our beliefs and values -- weakens ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually, and leads to the further mismanagement of our thoughts. When I began to really think about my circumstances, and to search diligently for answers that made sense to me, and as I started changing my beliefs I became much more relaxed and confident . . . because I "just knew" I was on the right path. I began directing my thoughts and my energies in harmony with my vision of what I truly wanted to become. I became conscious. I woke up from habit and conditioning and unquestioned beliefs. We can only become truly conscious by discovering within ourselves the laws of thought; our thoughts determine our values and our actions and serve to strengthen or erode our beliefs. This discovery is totally a matter of application, self-analysis, experience and re-evaluating and questioning the actions we take out of habit and unconscious conditioning. By thinking, meditating and soul-searching we can discover the depth of who we are and what we are a part of. What if you discovered that you ARE the maker of your character, the molder of your life, and the builder of your destiny? How might that affect you, your choices and your actions? For me it gave me a larger more compelling view of myself and my purpose here. It also gave me more inner direction. I became less swayed by social norms and expectation. I became more confident in my view and my instinctual feelings about what is right for me. What if, by simply changing a few core beliefs and becoming conscious of your thinking, you would automatically change your eating and your patterns of movement? Would it be worth a try?
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Try this: Watch, control, and alter your thoughts one day at a time, for two weeks . . . and trace their effects upon you, upon others, upon your life and your circumstances. With patient practice and observation you can link cause and effect. Evaluate your experiences, even the most trivial everyday events, and you will discover a lot about yourself and others. I have done this in many areas. One of the most fun was "universal acceptance", I began thinking that everyone in my life was doing the best they could with what they had. With no blame or judgment, I practiced just 100% acceptance and compassion for who each person was in that moment. I now get hugged much more often. Have you ever heard this one? "He that seeketh, findeth." Or how about, "To him who knocketh it shall be opened? I'm here to tell you THESE OLD SAYINGS ARE TRUE, and science is now beginning to shed some light on how this works. Once we become aware of something, we actually begin to perceive things differently. I'm not talking about anything religious or even spiritual here. How our receptors work is actually hardwired into our body, and it's called our Reticular Activating System - or RAS. Your RAS plays a vital part in your ability to become your vision. Sound intriguing? The RAS works like this: Imagine you're walking through a busy, noisy airport. Think of all the noise: hundreds of people talking, music, announcements, electric carts whizzing by, people walking past you. How much of this noise is brought to your attention? Not much, it's just there. You can hear general background noise, but you don't listen to each individual sound. Imagine a new announcement comes over the public address system - saying your name or maybe your flight. Suddenly your attention is full on. Your RAS is the automatic mechanism inside your brain that brings relevant information to your attention. Your reticular activating system is like a filter between your conscious mind and your subconscious mind. It takes instructions from your conscious mind and passes them on to your subconscious. For example, the instruction might be, "Listen up for anyone saying my name." In the same way that your RAS is subconsciously on the lookout for anything that will help you obtain the vision you hold of yourself in your conscious mind, when the RAS recognizes something that can be useful to you, it is directed to your conscious attention.
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This is SO COOL!!! We just have to learn to, one, have a vision, and two, pay attention to the little "taps on the shoulder" we receive from our RAS. As you consciously question and evaluate your core beliefs, and as you look and pay attention to your prevailing thoughts, youll begin to program your RAS and make conscious use of the full impact your beliefs and thoughts can have over your weight, your fitness and your entire destiny. Our minds are like a garden, which we may intelligently, consciously cultivate . . . or we may allow it to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, the garden must, and will, produce something. If no useful seeds are planted, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will certainly find their way into the garden. Or, if we plant seeds of healthy fruits, vegetables and flowers, and if we regularly nourish those seeds with what they need to grow (water, sunlight and nutritious soil), those seeds will begin to blossom in the garden. Whatever appears, whether it is useless weeds or a deliberate crop of beautiful flowers and wonderful life giving vegetables, each seed will produce its kind. Just as gardeners cultivate their plots, keeping them free from weeds, and growing the flowers or vegetables they desire, so we may tend the garden of our mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and limiting thoughts, and cultivate toward an abundant harvest based on useful, positive and supportive thoughts. The outer conditions or circumstances of our lives will always be in harmony with our innermost beliefs and thoughts. Our thoughts will follow our beliefs and our actions will follow our thoughts and our circumstances will follow our actions. We are where we are by the law of our being; the thoughts that we have built into our character have brought us where we are. The circumstances of our lives are not the result of chance. Our circumstances are the result of a universal law that cannot vary: "We become what we think about." This is just as true of those who feel "out of harmony" with their circumstances as of those who are content with them. If you think about things, circumstances, and events that are not in alignment with your true beliefs and values, you will grow increasingly further from your "true self."
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Section 3
Lucidity
Another trait I wanted to change was my gullibility. I became aware of my buying patterns, particularly my 'food' buying. I was buying things that did not really support who I was and these purchases and this consumption was undermining who I wanted to become. My habitual and semi-conscious buying started to make more sense once I understood how we are being "marketed to." Let me explain with a bit of marketing history: In the 1950's Louis Cheskin, a scientific market researcher, observed that peoples perceptions of products and services were directly related to aesthetic design of the packaging. Cheskin spent much of his life investigating how design elements impact people's perceptions of value, appeal, and relevance. He also discovered that most people could not resist transferring their feelings towards the packaging to the product itself. Most people make unconscious assessments of a product, service, or event not only based on the item itself, but on secondary sensory input associated with the item, which all contribute to one general impression - whether intended or not, accurate or not. One famous Cheskin study involved the testing of identical deodorants in different packages. Samples were mailed to users and the users were told that the formulations were different. However, the only difference between them was their packaging (three different color schemes). The trials showed that customers preferred one over the others. In fact, some people perceived one of the samples as so threatening that they reported rashes and trips to dermatologists, yet had no trouble with the same formula in a different package.
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This is interesting on two levels. One, it's interesting that we, as a group, place so much importance on packaging and seem to be so easily influenced at a very core level. The other level, perhaps even more interesting, is the fact that manufacturers and their sales agents have learned to use these "marketing techniques" to persuade us to buy things that we would never otherwise buy. The marketing mantra is this- "perception is reality." Really... perception IS reality! In other words if the marketers can just get us to "perceive" that their product will _______________ (fill in the blank) we will buy it... and we do. What happened to reality being reality??? What happened to people, individuals, trusting their gut, their knowledge, their elders? Check this out - Here are a couple of examples of products we inherently knew we didn't want to buy and consume but we were sold by the marketers manipulations of our perception. How We Were SOLD Margarine In 1940, margarine wasnt popular in the United States. Consumers were not interested in purchasing or eating it (with good reason if you ask me - a typical margarine includes liquid soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, maltodextrin, salt, vegetable monoglycerides and soy lecithin (emulsifier), potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and calcium disodium EDTA (to preserve freshness), citric acid (acidulant), artificial flavor, Vitamin A palmitate, and beta carotene). Cheskin was asked to find out why. At that time margarine was not associated with butter, because of its texture and color; it was white, instead of yellow. The obvious solution was to add yellow coloring (where the law allowed); but that didnt mean consumers would find it acceptable. Cheskin threw luncheons for housewives (sometimes in their homes), using this new colored margarine instead of butter, but not drawing attention to this fact. The tests showed that these housewives noticed no real differences between butter and the margarine. Further tests found ways of transferring the "impression of quality," a known concern with this product. By delivering the margarine in blocks the same size as butter, wrapping them in foil, naming the margarine 'Imperial,' and using a crown logo, Cheskin was able to create a "total experience," through product and packaging, that was
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perceived as quality to housewives of the time. Remember the mantra: "perception is reality." Here's another example: The Marlboro Man. Cheskins most famous "achievement" was turning Marlboro cigarettes into a "mans" cigarette from its original appeal to women. Cheskin's recommended redesigning the package to denote masculinity. His recommendation underlies everything from the 'Man-Sized Flavor' advertising campaign and the now iconic packaging (resembling a medal), to the masculine and virile Marlboro Man himself. The Marlboro Man sported tattoos to give him a rugged back-story and often appeared as a cowboy on horseback (the predominant image that has survived today). Cheskins "perception is reality" process was created in the 1950s and 1960s and it has only been refined and "improved" since. What do you think? Are you being sold a "bill of goods" by a bunch of incredibly sophisticated marketers manipulating our "perceptions" about products and services? That's what I concluded and I don't like it. Oh, I understand why they do it, and I believe they have the right to do it. I just want to wake up and be more thoughtful and deliberate about my purchases. To me, "perception is NOT reality." Reality is reality and perception is perception, and I perceive this manipulation of perception to be a crock! I decided I would become more aware, more conscious of my decisions. I don't want to be "sold to" or have my perceptions manipulated by packaging. I want to be educated and then buy, or not buy, based on my REASONING not because I let "marketers" manipulate my "perception" of reality. Does this make sense? This awareness had a major impact on my food choices. How much of the "food" in your kitchen is really food and how much is some product that was scientifically manufactured and then sold to you by the "perception manipulators"? The question I asked was this: "How much of what I'm eating each day is decided on by my own rational thought?" Did I really decide that toaster waffles with margarine and imitation maple syrup was my best breakfast choice, most in alignment with who I am and what I
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believe? Or was this breakfast just quick and easy and sweet . . . and products that I had been programmed to eat? Hmmm... So here are the next six elements of the HALO Method: 1. Regain Your Ability to Choose Much of what we eat and how we move is subconscious. We often run on auto pilot. STOP, think and decide. Do whatever you want to do, but do it consciously, rather than subconsciously. We are creatures of... habit. How do we know that? 1. We have heard it our entire lives. 2. We know from our own experiences. What do you DO out of habit? Habits end when we become conscious of our actions and make new decisions based on new values, new beliefs and new visions. My intention today is to slightly pause before every decision I make so that I'm aware that it is a "thoughtful" choice. 2. Do Not Fall Into the Goals Trap Goals, especially very specific goals, can motivate or un-motivate but a vision ALWAYS inspires. 3. Do Not Rely on Will Power Doing something that is consistent with your beliefs is vastly different and much easier than "willing yourself" to do something. Will power is what you "muster up" to accomplish your goal. Listen to that. I'm going to call on my will power to do whatever it takes to lose 25 pounds. UUUGHHH! Who wants to do that? Not me! How about this... There are many things I'm not. I'm not a thief, I'm not a cheat, I'm not a smoker, etc. How do I know? I don't do what smokers do and I do what nonsmokers do. I don't smoke. When do you become a non-smoker? After you have NOT SMOKED 3,000 cigarettes? No. You become a non-smoker the minute you don't smoke the first one. The same is true with weight. I became a "fit person" the moment I changed my thoughts about eating... It just took a few months for my actions and my body to catch up with my mind. 4. Understand Your Current Belief Patterns After you spend some time thinking you will become aware of current belief patterns that do not support your desired outcome. Accept, change, or add belief patterns that support your new enlightened self. Any new beliefs you adopt must be phrased in positive terms. Release any negative beliefs that you have been holding on to.
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5. Change Your Self Talk Transitional Vocabulary I don't believe we always think in words. I believe we sometimes think in pictures or even sensations but I do believe the words we say, even to ourselves, ALWAYS affect our thinking. If a child comes home from school pouty and unhappy and you say "What is the matter with you?" How would the child feel? How would you feel? What if you would have said, What is bothering you?" Can you see how both you and the child would feel differently? If you tell yourself you have to go into "panic mode" because you desperately need money, you will feel and behave much differently than if you tell yourself it's time to go into "high productivity" mode. Do you think you have to "battle" your weight? Do you see yourself as strong and courageous in battle? Would you feel more comfortable just surrendering to being the fit person you know you really are inside? Can you see how this language could affect your thoughts and ultimately your actions and outcome? Personally, I did not want to battle my weight. I just wanted to surrender to being me, being true to my beliefs, being authentic. This was not fighting for something; this was simply letting go of limiting beliefs and conditioned behavior. Words have the power to dramatically affect how you think and what you do. Be conscious of your word choices when you speak, even (and especially) when you are just speaking/thinking to yourself. 6. Integration Take 15-30 minutes each morning and evening to reinforce your new revelations about yourself and your physical existence. Whether you do this by meditating or just taking a few moments of silence to be with yourself and your thoughts . . . just do it.
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Ongoing
Living Your True You "A certain harmony should be kept between actions and ideas if we want to fully develop the effects they can produce." Franois de La Rochefoucauld You cannot believe in honor until you have achieved it, better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world George Bernard Shaw
The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world is to be in reality what we would appear to be; all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them. Socrates
Honor is the inner garment of the Soul; the first thing put on by it with the flesh, and the last it layeth down at its separation from it. Akhenaton
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Chapter 5
YOUR PLAN - Create Your Plan

Now that you understand the importance of your beliefs and your thoughts, now that youve become conscious of your habits and are aware of the "perception manipulators," and now that youve taken the steps to lay a solid foundation of supportive, empowering beliefs and thoughts, it's time to develop YOUR PLAN. I'm not talking about you simply creating a "diet" for yourself. I'm talking about you changing your beliefs and thoughts about what you eat and who you are: A thinking human who must eat. 1. Create Your Own Eating Plan - Have you ever been on a diet? When you are on a diet, who's plan are you on? Theirs. Pritikin, Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig's whoever, it was THEIR plan. When you went off of the diet, whose plan were you on? Your plan. The problem is, your plan sucks and you gained weight! Right? You don't have to find a new diet; you simply have to change YOUR plan. You already know what YOU should and should not eat. You already know how much YOU should eat. You're just not doing it. Get very clear about what foods are on YOUR plan and which are off. Ask yourself: What foods, in what quantities, do you REALLY think you should be eating? Get very clear about the quantity you should eat to lose weight. Think calories and the foods you "feel best about" eating regularly. For example, I believe I can eat all of the vegetables I can hold and not exceed my calorie limit. I don't really think about calories on veggies. I just know veggies don't have many calories. I also know ice cream, oils, candy, etc. have a huge amount of calories, even in very small quantities of these foods. By the way, to me, ice cream, oils and candy are all "scientifically engineered food stuffs," being as refined as they are; so, I just eliminated them from my "plan." One of the beliefs I adopted was that "scientifically engineered food stuffs" are not what I eat. So, I did not give up candy. I gave up scientifically engineered food stuffs, and candy just happened to be one of them. I don't have to use will power to "give up" candy, I just have to live true to my belief about "scientifically engineered food stuffs."
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2. Create Your "Quick Start" Plan - This is a two to four week quick start eating program that will work for you. This step is optional, but the advantages are many. You break old non-desirable patterns of eating You start with a new clean slate of eating You immediately feel you are taking control of your eating You adjust to eating less food You reaffirm your commitment and mindset with each meal
3. Create Your Menu Make up YOUR menu for one week. 4. Shop Go out and shop for all YOUR menu-required items for one week. The next few points are totally flexible, which you can adjust to your schedule and location (work, home, in car, etc.), where you will be eating your meals. At first, this will be a little time-consuming and maybe a bit difficult to coordinate. Keep at it! It will quickly become easy; and with a little planning, it will become even easier. 5. Have your meals and snacks ready If you are already eating cooked meats or canned foods, such as tuna or chicken, all you have to do is cut off a slice or open a can and you can eat it. If you are going to cook, its easier to cook ahead of time and make enough to last for a few meals. 6. Divide out your portions Prepare each portion for your designated meals and snacks. Wrap them separately, either the night before or in the morning.
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Chapter 6
YOUR ROUTINE- Establish Your Basic Daily Routine

The body is the servant of the mind. It is my belief that our bodies, and our actions, obey the operations of the mind, whether they are deliberately chosen or automatically expressed (habits). What we eat, how we move and how we feel, like circumstances, are rooted in thought. Lazy thoughts will sooner or later express themselves through a lazy body. I believe that unsupportive thoughts, even if not physically acted on, will eventually weaken the body, mind and spirit. I also believe that strong, pure and happy thoughts will build up the body in vigor and grace. The body is a tool, a tool that responds to thoughts and habits of thought will produce their own effects, good or bad, upon it. (Again, I encourage you to read Dr. Lipton's book The Biology of Belief, or at least watch his video at AskEdTaylor.com) Once you allow your thoughts to be supportive of your greater vision, you lose your desire for unsupportive food; furthermore, through conscious thought, you eliminate negative habits and mindless buying of what I call non-foods. Did you get that? The phrase I use is NON-FOODS . . . for the stuff being sold as food, but, in my belief system, is just scientifically produced "non-foods" being sold to us by corporate profit seekers who have mastered the art of "perception manipulation." Why would I buy them when I'm shopping for FOOD? Heres my attitude about it: To protect your body, guard your mind. To renew your body, renew your mind. Thoughts of hatred, envy, disappointment and despondency rob your body of its health and grace. A sour face does not come by chance; it's the result of sour thoughts. Just as you cannot have a fresh and healthy home, unless you allow the air and sunshine in, a healthy body and a bright, happy personality can only result from thoughts of joy, goodwill and happiness. Remember the Bobby McFerrin song from the late 80's- Don't Worry, Be Happy? Don't worry, be happy In every life we have some trouble
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When you worry, you make it double Don't worry, be happy...... It's true!!! On the faces of old folks, we can see some wrinkles made by worry, others made by strong and pure thought, and still others that were carved by passion: Can you recognize which is which? Which wrinkles are you developing? There is nothing like cheerful thoughts for dissolving the troubles of the body. There is no comforter like kindness for dispersing grief and sorrow. If we consistently have thoughts of worry, unfriendliness, doubt, suspicion, and envy, we are filled with negative emotions. Many people eat to distract themselves from these emotions. Treat the cause. Change your beliefs and thinking and these self-defeating thoughts and actions fade away. I now look for the good in all things, events and people. (Really, I do.) I consciously intend to think well of all, to be cheerful with all and to cultivate unselfish thoughts. This practice is incredibly comforting. I highly recommend you try it. Developing this positive habit will set you free from many worries and anxieties that likely are causing you to try to find comfort in food; or worse, to find comfort in non-foods. We each CHOOSE how we are going to interpret the events in our lives and how and when we are going to think about them. These choices will affect our actions; choose well. Here are the three things I have made a part of my daily routine. I suggest you see how they could work for you: 1. When you wake up Before you get out of bed each morning, take a few minutes to reinforce your new revelations (in whatever way you choose). Acknowledge your gratitude, your present awareness and your self expectations. 2. Breakfast Do not eat on the go. Instead, take a few minutes to eat and think. Do not think about what you are eating...Think about what you are accomplishing by following the HALO Method. Who you are becoming, as you bring yourself into alignment, both in terms of your health and your spirituality? 3. Eat Meals and Snacks Dont let yourself get hungry. Eat on a schedule.
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Chapter 7
BE FLEXIBLE - How To Stay On Your Plan

Before I lost weight and kept it off, I changed my thinking. But it's not just my weight that changed. Changing my thinking changed everything... I now know that strengths and weaknesses, personal character, and our circumstances are all our own; we each bring these things about for ourselves, and they can only be altered by us. Our suffering and our happiness are evolved from within. As we think, so we are; as we continue to think, so we remain. Once I had lost 70 to 80 pounds I started to notice a slight change in my point of view. I started believing, with a sense of pride, "WOW, I'm nailing it." As soon as I started holding that view, things changed. I became a bit less vigilant about my thoughts. I began to honor my beliefs and my decisions less. It was weird, but as soon as I started taking credit for my accomplishments, my weight loss slowed down. Looking back, I believe I know why. I started on a journey of self discovery. I made many discoveries, many of which I have already shared with you in the pages of this book. However, once I lost a bunch of weight, weight became my focus. My thoughts became about my weight, NOT being true to who I AM. Ego had crept into my life. By the way, I have noticed that self-help gurus, like Tony Robbins and Deepak Chopra, use the word EGO as an acronym for Edging God Out. Interesting... That works for me. To me, God and Universal Energy are the same, and there was a point where my focus went to me, not God/Universal Energy. I was taking credit for my results, rather than just being who I AM. I was out of alignment with the Universal Energy. It seems to me that, for many people, their first thought, their current habit or pattern, is rooted in "their" accomplishment. It's as if they jumped up off the ground and then took the credit for coming back down. The laws of nature, the law of gravity, will see to it that you come back down. If you believe and think that you are "responsible for" or the "cause of" actions that you, indeed, are not "responsible for" or the "cause of," you are engaging in faulty thinking. Faulty thinking results in... faulty actions. Within a few weeks, I recognized the error of my thinking and, once again, I became more vigilant about my thoughts. I also became more aware of the language of my thoughts.
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As I mentioned earlier, we think in words; essentially, thinking is just talking to ourselves internally. Right? Well, the WORDS we use to talk to ourselves are very important. Our words convey a meaning, and that meaning is often associated with a belief. I know this is getting a bit complex, but stay with me. FOR EXAMPLE - Let's say you are thinking,- "By living true to who I am, I will experience abundance and security in my life." That's a good thing, right? Now let's say you are thinking, "By living true to who I am, I will have indulgence and excess in my life." A different feeling, right? For me, there is a fine distinction between "abundance" and "indulgence;" but I believe it is an important distinction. When I imagine abundance, I think happy, a cornucopia of choices. When I think indulgence, I think of excess, gluttony and, for some reason, I think of selfishness. Both words are very similar; but they are typically associated with very different beliefs. I would love to live in abundance; but I would not want to live indulgently. I'm not saying that you have the same feelings about these two words that I have; but I am saying we all have feelings about words, and we need to carefully choose the words we say and think. It has been my experience that thoughts based on ego-driven beliefs create conflict and confusion within. With ego-driven beliefs, my thoughts become incongruent, or out of alignment with who I really am, the TRUE me. By re-evaluating your beliefs, you can identify where your old beliefs are in conflict with your new understanding and your new beliefs. By taking control of and responsibility for your beliefs and the resulting thoughts, you are in a position to become what you REALLY want to become. You are ready to think and act independently, and stand strong in your journey. Personally, I have found great pleasure and comfort in knowing and accepting that I can and do choose my path. There are others on my journey, for sure friends and family who I love and care about deeply; and yet, my path is my own. My freedom is supported by my intention to not be persuaded by the thoughts and beliefs of others. Today, so much more than any time in the past, I trust myself. Today, I honor myself, by living true to MY beliefs and values, to the best of my ability.
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On a similar note, I have also found comfort in the belief that the universe does not favor the greedy, the dishonest, or the vicious; although on the mere surface, it may sometimes appear to do so. I also believe the universe helps the honest, the generous and the honorable. All the great and wise teachers throughout the ages have declared this, in varying forms. You can prove it to yourself by lifting up your own thoughts. I want to say this again -- I don't have any "real proof" that the statement above is true. That said, I have a lot of evidence that supports my rational belief; and my rational belief supports me. I feel happier believing my values are in harmony, and in alignment, with the Universal Energy. Are you seeing how this works? We design our lives by determining our beliefs and controlling our thoughts. Here's an example: Intellectual achievements are the result of thought directed toward the search for knowledge or development. Sometimes, these achievements are connected with vanity and egotism, no doubt; but I don't believe these achievements are the result of vanity or egotism, I believe these achievements are the result of thought directed toward a specific objective, the RAS kicking in, and the resulting actions. Spiritual achievements are the result of spiritual aspirations. If you live, more and more, with good and positive thoughts in your awareness, and continue to think about all that is pure and unselfish you will become increasingly contented and rise into a position of greater blessedness. I know all of this may be a bit "out there" for a weight loss book; but hey, this is what has made the difference in me, and, ultimately in my weight, my fitness and my health. We can choose our beliefs, we can direct our thinking, and we can become what we aspire to be. We can lose weight and get fit, certainly. However, if our old thoughts and habits slip back into our minds, we will backslide. We have to stay vigilant about our thoughts. Don't let old habits or new persuasiveness lead you astray. Stay in alignment. Continue to consistently act in harmony with your beliefs and values. Stay true to the TRUE you. What we attain by "right thought" can only be maintained by care and watchfulness. This is why it is so important to change our core beliefs and control our thinking. All achievements, whether in the business, intellectual or spiritual world, are the result of definitely directed thought. Achievements, of any kind and in any field,
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are all governed by the same laws and the same methods. The only difference lies in the objective we are seeking and who we are becoming. The next three elements in my process are: 1. Be flexible, but stay true to your vision, beliefs and values. Remember, you are human. You are not perfect. The HALO Method is not about being perfect; rather, it is about being consistent. We will all waver from our path, from time to time. Dont beat up on yourself; instead, simply work on minimizing the length and number of such inconsistencies. 2. Continue to take time every day. Reinforce your new revelations (in whatever way you choose) and acknowledge your gratitude, your present awareness and your self expectations. 3. Modify and Refine your long-term eating plan to fit your needs. Do this by continuing to do what is working, and by eliminating what is not working. Examples: I like of a grapefruit and 2-4 ounces of meat in the morning... so that stays in. I am tired of tuna, so, that is eliminated. I found that mustard makes a great low-cal, low fat, low carb dressing... try it. If you like it, keep it; if not, dont. I can totally eliminate refined carbs... so I did it! And so can you! The bottom line is add, eliminate, try new MAKE IT YOUR OWN.
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Chapter 8
STAYING TRUE: Stay True to Your Values and Beliefs

Until thought is linked with purpose, there is no accomplishment. There are results and there are circumstances, but no accomplishment. For many people, the boat of thought is allowed to "drift" upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness causes confusion, anxiety and frustration, and "drifting" often leads to catastrophe and destruction. People who have no central purpose in their lives get easily distracted by petty worries, fears, troubles and self-pity. I bring this up for two reasons: 1. Worry, anxiety, fear, frustration and self-pity can all lead to poor food and eating choices (which can then lead to poor health!). 2. Poor food choices are the least of the problems associated with worry, anxiety, fear, frustration, self-pity, etc. Develop a compelling purpose, an undeniable vision in your heart, and then live true to your beliefs and values as your inner and your outer come into alignment. You must understand and accept, that your compelling purpose will move you and your vision closer together until you become one, in alignment. However, becoming one with your vision will not happen the way you expect it to, and more, that's exactly the way it's supposed to be. Let me introduce you to Bucky to add some clarity to this: I can hear you asking, Who or what is Bucky? Well, Bucky (as his friends called him) is short for Buckminster Fuller, one of the greatest visionaries who lived in the twentieth century. He was one of our worlds first futurists and global thinkers. Born July 12th, 1895 (the year of the invention of the automobile and the radio) in Milton, Massachusetts, Bucky spent much of his youth on Bear Island, in Penobscot Bay off the coast of Maine. After marrying Anne Hewlett when he was 22, Bucky suffered many personal tragedies. In 1922, his first child died in his arms of pneumonia, just a month before her fourth birthday, after having survived both infantile paralysis and spinal meningitis. Five years later, his second daughter, Allegra, was born. It was the same year that he went bankrupt and lost the company he had started with his father-in-law.
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Feeling totally depressed, he stood on the edge of Lake Michigan and contemplated suicide. It was then a voice within told him, "You are not here in this world for yourself!" Those words caused him to re-evaluate his life and the world! On that day, Bucky decided to commit himself to solving problems by designing all kinds of things which would be capable of doing more with less. He decided to pay no attention to `earning a living, never promoting or selling or paying others to do so. Bucky believed that reality was reality; if his designs were good for the world, then nature would take care of him by what he called good precession! How did it turn out? Well, Bucky became the inventor of the geodesic dome and dozens of other patents, and he was well looked after by nature! During his life, he owned 43 cars, 3 planes and several boats. Although Fuller never graduated from college, he was awarded nearly 50 honorary doctorates for his work in science and the humanities, and over 100 major awards of merit, including being on the cover of Time magazine in 1964. He died in 1983 at age 88. If you want to know more about Buckminster Fuller, just Google his name! So what is this `precession that treated him so well? First, precession is not PROcession, which means movement in a line. In most small dictionaries, you wont even find the word precession! But on the Internet, you will find many references and definitions, mostly describing precession as it relates to geography and physics (about the rotation of the earth, gyroscopes, etc.) The precession Im talking about is that defined, studied and practiced by Bucky himself for over 50 years! Here are a couple of simple examples of precession: Dropping a Pebble Into a Lake: When a pebble is dropped into a calm lake, as the pebble drops vertically downwards to the bottom, it creates ripples which travel outwards horizontally away from where the pebble was dropped. These ripples are a side effect, a precession, of the pebble being dropped. A Bee Gathering Honey: Another precession occurs when a bee gathers nectar to create honey. The precession is the pollen from the flower being deposited on the bees legs. In the act of gathering nectar, the bee unknowingly pollinates the flowers thereby helping plant life to grow.
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In the above examples, Bucky demonstrated how actions can create ripples or side effects. He then took this concept a step further... It is possible, just possible, that the honey bee has a life purpose? If so what would that life purpose be? To pollinate plants in order to sustain plant life on earth? No. What is the bees objective, or vision? To collect nectar to make honey, right? In the case of the honey bee, the side effect, the precession, is the pollination of plants and the maintenance of life on earth. So, it's just possible that pollinating plants is the bee's TRUE PURPOSE. So how might this apply to us as people? First, you must understand that the objectives you set for yourself, or the visions you hold, may not be your life purpose. Imagine that I had an objective of losing 110 pounds and I lost the 110 pounds. What would happen next? I would quit doing whatever I had done to lose the weight; right? In my case, I lost the 110 pounds by bringing into alignment my beliefs and values and my thoughts and actions. In this process, I was not only eating and moving in new and different ways, I was also changing as a person. I was gaining clarity about what I wanted to do next in my life. I began to recognize that I had been out of alignment professionally. I started making shifts in what I did day-to-day in my business to bring my thoughts and actions more in alignment with my beliefs and values. What if by living in alignment with my beliefs and values my true purpose was to write this book? I would never have done it if I had stopped living in alignment after I lost the weight. Maybe what I'm doing now is not my true purpose; maybe I'll never know what my true purpose is. Does it matter? No, not to me. I know I need to keep doing what I do. I know that I feel better, more complete, more fulfilled, less stressed and less tense when I live in harmony, in alignment, with my beliefs and values. I believe, and have faith, that by consistently doing what it feels like I'm supposed to do, I am living my true purpose. Bucky looked at the fact that animals did not have to earn a living. They just do what they are supposed to do. If they do that, then nature (energy) takes care of them.
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So he hypothesized that perhaps this is the way it is meant to be for us humans. Maybe we are not intended to work for money. Maybe, for each one of us, there is something we are supposed to be doing. And if we do it, then the universe will look after us. Maybe the real fruit of what we would be doing would not be obvious to us; perhaps it would be a side effect of the objective we set. The trick, according to Bucky, is to set the correct objectives. How do we know if the objective we set is creating the right side effects? He said we are not meant to go after money. He suggested, instead, we set an objective that "adds value," one that improves the quality of peoples lives. Maybe that is why people like to help each other. Perhaps we know, subconsciously, that through helping others, we are achieving our true life purpose. Bucky philosophized that the bee is getting a reward from nature, because it is helping nature to reproduce plant life! So, he theorized that if he himself were to do something to benefit the world, then he would always be well looked after and rewarded by the universe! He believed that he did not need to live as most of us do, always worrying about earning an income, or surviving! These were some pretty empowering beliefs that served him well. But, what about us? How can we use this philosophy? What can you and I do to use precession to our advantage? Let us further analyze the example of the bee gathering honey. Does the bee know it is helping the universe in its task of preserving plant life? No! Does the bee need to know it is helping the universe in order to get its reward? No! All the bee has to do is go after its objective (to collect nectar) and it will automatically be provided with its rewards! It seems to me that all we have to do in order to get good precession is to consistently follow our visions and dreams knowing that when we pursue our purpose, we are actually helping the universe in our own unique way!
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Just think about it. If you are happy, you naturally spread happiness: Your spouse is happy, your children are happy, your family is happy, your office colleagues are happy to see you! If you are depressed, well, you know. Listen to the "Taps on the Shoulder" One way of knowing whether or not you are on the right path is by listening to the 'taps on the shoulder.' These can be positive taps (blessings) or negative taps (warnings). If something bad happens, we could take this as a 'learning experience;' or we can consider that it may be a "negative tap on the shoulder," warning us that we are on the wrong path. Perhaps there is something we are doing (or not doing) that is different from what we are supposed to be doing. The trouble with most people, and a reason they may not be contented with their lives, is that they don't listen to the taps on the shoulder. They think they are just having "bad luck" - and they don't stop to consider whether or not they, themselves, have anything to do with this `bad luck.' Let's bring this all back around to losing weight. Here's how this applied to me and my weight loss . . . and how you can use precession, too. I was more than 100 pounds overweight, but my objective was not to lose weight. Losing weight was a SIDE EFFECT of living my purpose. I set out to gain clarity about my personal beliefs about spirit and the purpose of my life. In the process, I determined I wanted to live "true to my core values" and "honor my beliefs." My purpose became what I call "alignment." For me, alignment is honoring who I am by living true to my beliefs and values. The side effect (precession) was identifying my beliefs about food and what I think is best for me, i.e., most in alignment with my values and beliefs. Another side effect for me was a realization that I did not want to be "sold a bill of goods" by the "perception manipulators" selling products that undermine my true beliefs and values. I had been buying food stuffs based on taste and convenience, rather than nutrition and my beliefs about food. These "convenient foods stuffs" were not consistent with my core beliefs about healthy food and proper nutrition. With introspection it became very clear to me that I had been persuaded to buy products and services for the benefit of the purveyor, rather than for my own benefit. I had become a "consumer" to whom "marketers" "merchandised." Being
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a consumer who was being "sold to" just did not fit my vision of myself; so I woke up! I suggest that you make your purpose your ultimate responsibility, and devote yourself to its attainment. Don't allow your thoughts to be manipulated by sales pitches, peer pressure, societal norms, family, friends, etc. By being consistently true to my convictions I developed self-control and true concentration of thought. I am now recognizing the taps on my shoulder and I believe I'm living closer to my TRUE PURPOSE. Even the weakest person, knowing his or her own weakness, and believing that strength can be developed by effort and practice, will begin to exert himself/herself based on his/her belief; and by adding effort to effort, patience to patience, and strength to strength, he/she will develop and will grow strong. Just as the physically weak person can make him- or herself strong by careful and patient training, so the person of weak thoughts can make him- or herself mentally strong by exercising right thinking. Even if you fail again and again to accomplish your objective, the strength of character you gain will be the measure of your true success; and this strength of character will form a new starting point for the attainment of your vision. I believe we are honoring ourselves when we set aside aimlessness and weakness, and begin to consistently think with purpose and act in harmony with our deepest beliefs and values. This kind of consistent thinking and acting is, from my experience, truly liberating. Losing weight gets much, much, easier once you accept who you are on the inside and adopt the belief that you are honoring yourself by "being true" to who you are. You may not be on your path 100% of the time, but you will know what your path is, and you will always know how to gravitate back to it. Understanding who you really are, consciously selecting your beliefs and thoughts, and deciding that you will actually live true to who you really are, that is the ultimate liberator. This is the real life changer. You are not "on" a diet. You are living who you are! Having identified your purpose, it will be wise to mentally mark out a straight pathway to its achievement. Doubts and fears should be rigorously excluded; they are distractions that break up the straight line of effort.
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Thoughts of doubt and fear never accomplished anything and never can. They always lead to failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts begin to weaken and ultimately fail when doubt and fear are allowed to creep in. The desire "to do" springs from the knowledge that you can do. Eliminating doubt and fear does not mean you throw caution to the wind and just take actions willy-nilly or without paying attention. You use your thought and reason and make your best decision. As we learned from Dr. Bruce Lipton's book, The Biology of Belief, our every thought is connected with energy, and you want to face your difficulties and challenges from a position of confidence and strength. When thought and purpose are linked together, they become a powerful force. Once you know this, you are ready to become something higher and stronger than a mere bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating feelings; you become the conscious and intelligent designer of your destiny. Here are the final four elements in the HALO Method: 1. Allow yourself to go off your plan, if you want to for special occasions; but set a time limit. Example: Thanksgiving you can give yourself one, two or maybe three days or a max of four days, depending on whether you are staying at home, going to someone elses house or going out of town and celebrating the entire holiday period. Dont gorge yourself. You dont need to. Look, you took Thanksgiving off of your plan, ate some "old" food, now get back on! Stay true to who you are now. Honor yourself. 2. Giving into Temptation Okay, it happens. Let it go. Forgive yourself. Its over. You goofed. You're human. Cheating by having a muffin at a morning business meeting does not mean you have to be off for the entire day. Its done now; get back on your plan. Remember why are you are on your plan to begin with! Youre now living in alignment with your core beliefs and values, to the best of your ability! 3. Stay True You made a commitment to your spiritual self. If youre having difficulty restarting on your plan, remember to stay true to who YOU are. Take a time out and revisit your core values, acknowledging your intention to be true to your core beliefs and values. Honor yourself by being true to yourself. I have linked up my thinking in a way that says, "Not everything that is sold as food is really food, and I won't compromise who I am just to help corporate profiteers by buying their engineered marketing methods for their needs and their goals for their products." In short, their products are not my products.
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4. Even when you are off your plan, continue to take time to reinforce your new revelations (in whatever way you choose); and acknowledge your thankfulness, awareness and self expectations.
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Chapter 9
Honor Yourself
Being true to yourself is the ultimate way you can respect and honor yourself. It takes courage to be true to your beliefs and values, especially in this age, where it seems nearly everyone is trying to persuade us to think a certain way, live a certain way or sell us their products or services. Having a dream, a vision, of what you want to become or accomplish is the foundation of success. The next step is honoring yourself enough to consistently hold the thought of its attainment in mind. Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to have met and dined with the legendary Earl Nightingale. Here is how he defined success: "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." Mr. Nightingale went on to say"A success is the school teacher who is teaching, because that's what he or she wants to do. A success is the entrepreneur who starts his own company because that was his dream, that's what he wanted to do. A success is the salesperson who wants to become the best salesperson in his or her company, and sets forth on the pursuit of that goal. A success is anyone who is realizing a worthy, predetermined, ideal because that's what he or she decided to do... deliberately. But only one out of twenty does that! The rest are "failures."" Dream of yourself as you REALLY want to be, your ideal. It's okay; in fact, it's necessary! What is your "worthy ideal," your vision, your dream? What do you want to do? What do you want to become? Sure you want to lose weight; but beyond that, what will it mean to you as you obtain and maintain your ideal weight? As the visible world is sustained by the invisible, we, through all of our troubles and discouragements, are encouraged and inspired by our dreams and visions. We cannot forget our dreams; we cannot let our visions and hopes fade and die. Our dreams live in us; know them as realities that you are certain you will see and know.
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Hold an inspiring vision, a lofty ideal in your heart and in your thoughts, and believe with every fiber that you will one day realize it. Columbus had a vision of another world, and he discovered it. Copernicus had the vision of a multiplicity of worlds and a wider universe, and he revealed it; Buddha held the vision of a spiritual world of stainless beauty and perfect peace, and he entered into it.
Every great achievement, was at first, and for a time, a dream. My dream was not to obtain my ideal weight and get into shape. My dream, my vision, was to be in harmony with my true purpose and the universal energy and to honor myself by being true to who I really am. Yes, living in alignment has manifested as significant weight loss for me, but many other aspects of my life are also changing for the better. Dreams inspire dreams, and, as you dream, so shall you become. Wow! What an incredibly empowering belief that is. Your vision is the promise of what you will one day be; it is the prophecy of what you shall, at last, unveil. Your current circumstances may be unpleasant; you may weigh many pounds above your ideal weight. You may not currently look like your vision of yourself; but that will change if you just continue to see yourself at your ideal weight, allow yourself to do what you know you should do . . . and, at the same time, allow yourself to NOT DO what you know you should not do. This is not a goal. This has nothing to do with "will power." Simply allow yourself to become who you really are. Your journey is mental and spiritual. Your journey is energetic. Your journey is in the energy of your essence and the energy of your thoughts. You absolutely cannot travel within and stand still without. What you, and your body, will become will be the direct result of your beliefs and thoughts; you will receive that which you attract; and you will attract what you are. Whatever your present circumstances may be, you will fall, remain, or rise with your beliefs, your thoughts, your vision, your dream. You will become as small as your controlling desire and as great as your prevailing thoughts.
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The thoughtless, or clueless, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, see luck, fortune, and chance. Seeing a fit and trim person, they might think, "How lucky that person is to have high metabolism!", "How fortunate that person is to have the time to work out!" The clueless do not see the thoughts and habits that these people have voluntarily accepted in order to gain and maintain their healthy physique; they have no knowledge of the beliefs these people have developed, of the control they have exercised over their thoughts, of the faith they have developed and maintained. In everything we do, there are actions, and there are results, and the consistency of the actions is the cause of the result. The journey to become who you want to become need not be difficult; but it must be consistent. You must stay on your path. I choose to believe my path is easy, I surrender to it. My actions are easy; consistent, but easy. I stroll along my path, alive and aware. It seems to me that some people see their path as steep and difficult, as a battle; and, of course, for them it is. They labor and struggle. They make every step difficult. They are so consumed with the effort that they miss the joy of the journey. We determine how we interpret what we see. We see opportunity or difficulty, based on how we THINK. We feel frustrated or challenged, based on what we THINK. We choose to be anxious or excited, based on what we THINK. Nothing IS as you think it is; but rather, as you think it is, it IS. I suggest you make your path easy and fun! The vision you see in your mind, the dream that you hold in your heart--this is the true you. As you consciously build your life, this is the new you that you will become. 1. DO NOT set a goal of how much weight you want to lose by when. This is a fundamental part of my success. A goal can actually be detrimental to reaching your optimal weight. Consistently stay on your path and trust you will arrive at your vision. 2. Dont make charts. Just stay on your path. Honor who you are. 3. Adopt the core belief that Food is Nourishment.
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4. Have your meals and snacks ready Dont send yourself scavenging because you are hungry. In the beginning, remove temptations by removing the snacks you eat out of habit, like cookies, cereal and ice cream. 5. Cut yourself some slack In the beginning, not everything is perfect. Just stay with it! Think of it as an ever-evolving eating plan. It is a balance between how much time you invest in making food and what food you actually want to eat. You will work it out. Making food in advance is usually the answer.
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Chapter 10
Closing Thoughts
As I have developed more awareness and more alignment with my beliefs, values, thoughts and actions, I have become more composed and centered. It seems to me that we become composed and happy to the extent that we understand ourselves as thought evolved energetic beings who are living in alignment with our beliefs, values, thoughts and the energy of the universe. Here's the precession: People prefer to deal with others who are composed and happy. The strong, calm and happy person is loved and respected by others; but, more importantly, they are loved and respected by themselves. How insignificant mere weight loss looks in comparison with a serene contented life! The HALO Method is about living a more contented, aligned life. In my case, because I was overweight and not OK with it, one of the side effects of living more in alignment was weight loss; and while the weight loss was important, and for me life-changing, it pales in comparison with all of the other benefits of living true to who I really am. We all know people who sour their lives; who ruin all that is sweet and beautiful by explosive tempers or jags of self-destructive behavior. These people destroy their poise and make the atmosphere around them tense everywhere they go. How few people we meet in life who are well balanced, who have that calm selfconfidence that is characteristic of the composed, contented person! We can now choose which of these we will become and what circumstances we will attract . . . by carefully selecting our beliefs and our thoughts. To be composed, we must be very conscious and thoughtful of the language, the words, we use to "think in." Explosive words in our thoughts result in explosive behaviors. Positive, life-affirming words, on the other hand, result in peaceful, balanced and harmonizing behaviors. The thoughts and the language of our thoughts affect every aspect of our personality and our character. It is in our own hands to choose them consciously and wisely.
Examples
1. Negative Phrasing Not eating vegetables is bad for me.
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Positive Phrasing 1. Eating vegetables is good for my body and gives me energy. or 2. Eating vegetables brings natures life-force into my body.
2. Negative Belief I deserve . . . I deserve that banana split because I work hard I deserve abundance. Note: The feeling here is I shouldnt have to go without or sacrifice. Replace with Positive Belief -- I want to live the best physical life I can. 3. Negative Belief Discipline is bad. I want to do and eat what I want, when I want it. Im a free spirit, I go with the flow. Replace with Positive Belief -- Discipline is good. Note: Be aware, be conscious and honor your higher self as the result of discipline. I decide what I want to do and eat. The difference in each of the above examples - I decide instead of I deserve. You are actually more of a free spirit when you take control and are not at the mercy of all your humanly whims. I will leave you with the following words of W.N. Murray, from the Scottish Himalayan Expedition in 1951. COMMITMENT Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.
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I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."
I hope you have found this overview helpful. If you would like more guidance please go to AskEdTaylor.com and get 30 days of FREE guidance and coaching. I would also like to ask a small favor. If you enjoyed and benefited from this book please let me know at my blog. Simply click the following link and leave me a message. Thank you and I look forward to meeting you at AskEdTaylor.com
Ed Taylor
Books can be purchased at: http://www.TheHALOMethod.com
Additional information and support is available at: AskEdTaylor.com
2011 Ed Taylor
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Back Cover"There are lots of diet books written by Doctors. But they don't understand my emotional struggles. Ed does.

Back Cover continued...

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

More information and videos are available at TheHALOMethod.com and AskEdTaylor.com

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

CONTENTS Forward Introduction: My Personal Awakening Part I 8 10

Head: Develop "Your Own" Belief System

Actions: Changing Circumstances By Changing Thoughts

Lucid Living: Snapping Out of Societal Hypnosis

Ongoing: Develop "Your Own" Eating Plan

It Was All in My Head

Ed Taylor Ashland, Oregon

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

Wake Up & Take Control of Your Life

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

BELIEFS- Changing My Beliefs Changed My Life

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

Changing My Thoughts Changed My Body

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

YOUR PLAN - Create Your Plan

It Was All in My Head

It Was All in My Head

YOUR ROUTINE- Establish Your Basic Daily Routine

It Was All in My Head