Bill Phillip's | Transformation

Growing a garden this year so that I can have fresh veggies all the time! I have also been "talking" about having some URBAN CHICKs (yes...chickens in the city!) for about 6 months now but need help building the coop! I want to have organic eggs every day! Most recently, my Dr has put me on the Elimination Diet for food allergies so I read every label on everything in my cabinets and put it away until I know whether or not I can consume it. But the one thing that remains is the paperwork. I always had a hard time throwing out paperwork (primarily bills) because in my heart I had full intention of paying them. But it's been years and the paperwork keeps going in boxes and the boxes pile up. To this day I have a hard time shredding bills or notices I can't pay because I really want to. So...I'm taking this opportunity to eliminate all my paperwork and set up a plan to do it weekly so it doesn't accumulate to a point where it becomes overwhelming. When I'm in a position to pay my back bills and figure out which ones they are, then I'll just have to cross that bridge and figure it out when I get there. But for now, hoarding that stuff is the old me...so buh bye!

I also don't bring junk food in the house. When eating out making sure they have food that I can choose from. Also my closest friends are doing T.com so we are a huge support for each other sending recipes, sharing advice, encouraging each other. When we get together whether we eat out or are at each other's houses EFL is part of who we are now.

I have included balanced meals for the most part. If I do partake in processed foods I mostly always choose healthier one. Specifically no hydrogenated oils or corn syrup or any sort. I need to add more veggies and fruits in. I need to organize and clean.

The two things I do to create the right environment for success are: 1) Keep my cupboard stocked with clean foods only. 2) Visit restaurants that offer menu items compatible with the EFL food plan and avoid restaurants that have foods that tempt me too much (e.g. complimentary bread basket).

Honestly? I haven't changed my environment much since I started the challenge which has caused some setbacks. Moving forward however, I WILL protect my environment by planning my meals better, making sure that there is always healthy foods to reach for when craving sweets.

I can't say my environment has changed much, but being diabetic for a few years now, I don't have the temptation to eat those things I shouldn't. It's here ~ chips, candy and other 'bad' stuff and although my kids and hubby don't eat a lot of the 'bad' stuff, they do eat some. I've learned to eat good because I had to. I don't want insulin shots and if I choose to eat the 'bad' stuff, I will need to give myself those shots. NO THANK YOU!!! I don't smoke and never have and occasionally I will have a drink, but I'm talking twice a year, so I think I'm okay there too! My biggest problem has always been lack of exercise.

(",) So environmental changes is a tough one for me - i live with my folks who stock the house with the "wrong stuff". NOTE that I said the HOUSE... every room in the house has their yummy goodies stashed in drawers, cupboards, on shelves .. like slabs of chocolates, biscuits, cookies, crisps .... there is not a cupboard in the kitchen without the wrong stuff ... what i've done to help with Mr Will Power in his internal battles is to do my own shopping, pack the healthy choice groceries amongst the unhealthy ones, and when I pack them i first label them and then i tell them they are the good ones, the ones which will get me healthy and fit, they are my favourites ... i have weak moments but i find it harder to reach for the unhealthy choices when the healthy ones are staring me in the eye pleading with me (",) ~~~ The choice i MUST still make to ensure a successful environment is to clean up my room - my bedroom is a reflection of my mind - in complete chaos! there are piles of old clothes, new clothes, work files, gym stuff, even cooler boxes and paintball gear - i have a large room and i've utilised the space for "junk" .. to wake up feeling refreshed - this chaos needs to be gone with! and as it is written here so shall it be (",) ~Luv n Treasures~ Kelly

The biggest thing I do is cook a weeks worth of protein on Sunday, so I have chicken, turkey, or lean beef. That is about twelve meals, and that combined with egg whites, and Right shakes will pretty much get me through a week. One that I struggle with sometimes, but usually do is to to get the gym pack packed the night before, because if the options are struggling to get out of bed, load up a gym bag, get everything ready for work, and then go to the gym I have about an 80% chance that I make it. If everything is packed,I can't think of a single time that I didn't make it. I am mentally prepared ad ready to go at 5:00 A.M. Big change from my party-guy days!!

Thank you, Bill, for giving my poor ol' will power a break! It is exhausted from everything I've asked of it over the years. Old Will is also glad I'm taking some of the responsibility off his shoulders and making some changes that are making it easier for him to work. For example: I've hung a "goal board" by the front door - I write my plan for the next day here on the white board with colorful markers. I can't miss it when I go by! I've also gotten some speakers for the kitchen so I can listen to your radio shows while I do the dishes - it makes it SOOOO much more enjoyable! I lay out my workout clothes the night before and keep my running shoes and some socks in the car. I do need to work more on keeping the food out of the house! I get stuff from the food pantry "for the kids" - stuff I would never buy, but it's free and I feel poor and the kids will think it's a treat and I have good ol' Will Power to help me. Guess who ends up eating most of it? Your comment about Stoney's peanut butter in your pantry and how you ended up throwing it out was such a relief to me. I realized that if YOU had troubles, then maybe I wasn't such a failure after all...thanks for everything you do! Liz

The only junkfood in our house is my husband's chips and candies, the chips don't bother me, but the candy tempts me...so he hides it from me...and if I find it accidentally, I just give it to him to hide in another place. I know the power of environments because that is what I do for a living. Lighten the house up...with the right window treatments, lighting and if you can afford it, soothing water features. Colors are important, blue is calming, red can be agitating ...it can also make you hungry. I need lots of windows and skylights...no clutter, that makes me feel out of control. I especially dislike clutter now that I have to clean it myself. Simplifying my home has eliminated wasted time. I am okay on the healthy food, that is all I have now. I still need to leave the computer off in the morning until my workout is done...otherwise I get sidetracked. My husband put a bench together that has been sitting for 6 years....so now I have a pretty good and well rounded gym. I would like an indoor pool because in NE you can't swim year round outdoors. That won't be happening for a while: ) I stay away from the television and Fox News doesn't get to run all day long and usually gets turned off when I come in the room. That is all self preservation. I have a steam shower that I love, it is my special place and healthy. I have tons of trees, that makes my home feel like it is in a forest...even though it is in the middle of the city. The swimming pool and an ocean outside my window are the ways that I would improve it. One last thing, my daughter collects homeless cats and brings them to me because she won't take care of them. I have drawn the line...because I am allergic to them. That was a big step in self preservation. My home also invites guests...including full time grandchildren with bedrooms and spaces that are not mine. I have an office for working and an office for creating, My office for creating has light streaming in and makes me feel good. My husband and I have worked out a "fitness room schedule" because I like to work out alone. I have started walking on the treadmill during his time...just because he likes the company.

Change #1- I moved! :) From little Cedar City, Ut to Denver, Co. It has been a huge blessing. I made the decision that I would officially start my challenge when I got here. I was able to start with an empty pantry and unfamiliar surroundings. (I swear, the only fast food restraunt within MILES of my house is Subway:) #2- Planning my meals in advance takes all the stress and worry out of eating. I keep recipe's stuck to my fridge so that they are easy to make. I am working on improving my visualization and belief in myself, that I can accomplish this. :)

2 big ones and a little one . . . 1) I keep no junk food in the house. 2) I pack a gym bag the night before to make going to the gym when I wake up that much easier and the little one I added a majesty palm to my bedroom. They have been shown to clean the air, and increase the oxygen content in the room :)

i have actually stocked my eating right nutrition shakes behind the bar where i work, and i bring all my shakers to prepare them with me...

I had already start on this but it's been something I've been doing in a half attempt. I'm glad this assignment is here in front of me this week. Now I can step it up a few notches and get 'er done! Believe it or not...I have BOXES...literally boxes of paperwork that I need to go through and get rid of. I hate facing paperwork because I have years of bills I can't pay and it tears me down that I can't pay them. I've kept them over the years because I had the intention of paying them but I never could. Being a single mom with no child support and being on disability...just hasn't allowed me that luxury of going back and doing that and I don't like to be that person. But, I have to go through those boxes to get rid of them as it's one of those things that adds clutter to my environment and leaves an air of negativity that surrounds me. I can only do what I can do right now...and I hope that in the future as I heal and begin to make amends...that these are on the list as well. Thank you for this assignment...it's well needed and I'm going to approach it head on this week. I'm setting a deadline to have it done by Sunday. ~ Bella

The first positive change I made was to cut out soda, I have not had any since I began my transformation. I have also started to eat more fruit and salads.

Bill - I can honestly say I have made significant progress already with my "Environment". This is definitely my HOME as I get to stay home with my kids. As my kids are transforming with me - the junk food has decreased significantly in our home. I don't go buy candy bars and chips and ice cream so "the kids" can have a treat when they ask for one. I am limiting them to 2 sweet treats a day and they can have as many healthy treats, fruit, veggies, etc. whenever they want. Plus - they see me eating more healthy foods and they cheer me on - which is so fun. The pantry is stocked with clean foods and the meals I make from the Eating for Life book are turning into some family favorites. This is so cool! Today I want to change another environment. Facebook has been a huge time suck for me. I don't chat as often as I did, I just spend time playing a silly game - which really doesn't help me AT ALL! So - I am giving it up (the game) as of today. There is no need for it in my life. I will supplement this with reading to my kids. I think this is much better served and creates a better environment for everyone in the house. Plus - I love reading to them. Thank you for helping me transform my life with your assignments! You truly are an inspiration to us all and I love being part of this Transformation family.

I drink more water. No soda.

I only have clean foods at my house. I am also buying more fresh produce.

Cleaned out my kitchen

Yes big changes no fast foods even on my off days....cook every night to have clean healthy food ready for work the next day...got me a lunch bag something i never thought i will be able to do.... a good eating habit is developing

Salami. I have eaten it all my life, my Aunt had a Italian deli when I was a child and she used to hang salami from the tree for me. I used to carry it in my purse! Tonight as I type, there's a bag in my freezer, I went from 3lbs a month to 1/4 pound and only eat no more than 4 thin slices on my free day. I even stopped thinking about it!! The other thing is crackers, I don't know why but I convinced myself that they were healthy, Mary set me straight on that and I haven't eaten them since. I've bought a lot of healtier foods but I am looking forward to getting a lot more, especialy cruncy apples!

Big Changes: Well, I have to have plenty of variety and plenty of food in the house. So, we've done that. Even signed up at Sam's with their 18 packs of Myoplex Lite and 107 lb. Bags of everything. As long as there's plenty of food to have at all times, there's not as much of a chance of wandering off program. What works for me and I don't really do everyweek, and I guess I really oughta, is grilling up like 6 lbs. of Chicken. That helps satisfy the need for

The refrigerator is full of fruits, vegis, chicken, turkey breast, cottage cheese, salad. The pantry has oatmeal, tuna, well you get the idea. I don't buy sweets or even diet sodas. Soda pop was an ugly monkey on my back for a long time and I don't even drink the unleaded stuff anymore. Herbal teas and water are the drinks of choice. This has been a long work in progress for me and Frank. Carmen

My environmental change is slightly different, as I live in a share house surrounded by temptations, I do fairly well at avoiding junk food. So my environmental change is bombarding my mind with information. From this site, and others. Looking up inspiring stories. Reading tony Robbins books on positivity. My mental environment is changing. However, I am not buying wine to drink with dinner anymore, which I really enjoy, so I suppose this is a change in my dinner environment too !!

I don't really keep junk food in my house, maybe just chips for my kids, I don't care for chips so it's not a temptation for me. However, one thing that I haven't given up yet is the drive thru. I love to get a nice big fountain diet coke and a couple of places in town have really good diet coke, however, there are times especially in the morning when I haven't had time to eat yet that I will grab something that is not authorized because at that point I'm really hungry. So, for me to change my environment would be for me to stay away from the drive thru's except on my free days. I also need to cut way back on my diet coke.

I am just now starting this transformation of my former self but I picked my favorite number and read what you had to say. I'm so glad I did b/c this is exactly what I needed to hear. It's funny how it works that way, isn't it? Anyways, my husband and I have talked and we have agreed to keep the things out of the house that will sabotage our progress. We have also started to de-clutter our house. Now this is going to be an ongoing project but we're up to the challenge!! Keep up the great work everyone!

I've thrown out all of my chocolate candy, reeses etc. I would eat it on my free day, but I have decided to just get rid of it. What I want to do is have a mornin devotional time reading the Bible right when I wake up to kick start my day off right.

again havent started this challenge YET but i agree totally with keeping the junk out! its so tempting and especially if your home alone! that makes it SO easy to just go and eat it and of course then the feeling afterward is awful! So i too say keeping the junk out and the temptations out. My husband loves neopoliton ice cream and i dont. so sense that does not tempt me im not worried about it. But if he brings brownies home i am VERY tempted. So junkfood/temptations defiantly dont help us when they are in reach every day of the week!

I only listen to uplifting music and today I want to tidy my house to further inspire me.

The big environmental change for me has been removing all unhealthy foods from my home, I only buy good food, mostly unprocessed and that has made a big difference. Also, at work, I take my lunch hour as my workout time and that has saved me money and much temptation by not going out to eat! I put more in my blog as I'm keeping my assignments there. I feel really great!

I loaded up my environment with all the approved foods, snacks, fruits, etc. I have found to with the adjustments in my meals, that I never really have an urge for the snacks. The six meals a day keeps me satisfied, occasionally on a really intenese workout, I may feel a little more hunger of course. The difficult part, is going to a friends to hang out. I usually have to plan ahead and bring some snacks or maybe help suggest what to throw on the grill, or ask if I can bring something of my own to throw on as well. Another great topic!

Stress during my work day sends me looking for something to crunch on - not good. I work from home in a home office. I just this past week started playing a play list of very soft, soothing music in the background while I work. Sometimes to take a 15-minute coffee break - I switch to some LOUD rock and dance a bit to shake it all out before I sit back down the computer. Amazing how music can affect your spirits and nuture your soul. A little vitamin "M" every day! I have already cleared out the kitchen (turned organic as well) - so I think the next environmental change needs to be a clearing of clutter. Ever notice once you clear out a room and pare it down to just the bare essentials, you *feel* so much lighter and freer? Time to simplify and refocus my time and energy away from clutter.

The biggest enviorment change that I have made is making sure I keep a large variety of healthy foods available and by planning my daily meals out. My husband is a junk food junkie, he loves things like ice cream and chips, he is a firefighter so he gets plenty of exercise on a daily basis and has never had a weight problem. What I have done to avoid the temptation of eating his junk food is put all of his junk into one cabinet and I just stay away from that cabinet, out of sight out of mind. If I even start to crave junk food I remind myself that my cheat day will be soon and I find a healthy alternative. I have not had a problem keeping to healthy eating my problem is exercise, after a long day I often feel tierd and unmotivated. A friend of mind gave me a little help with this problem, she told me to convince myself into just five minutes, it works, once you get five minutes in you are feeling great and it gives you the motivation you need to keep going.

An “environmental change" which I’ve made so far which has helped me with my progress is that I have made healthy food more available for myself. My family does not like to many veggies and I would let it waste away in the fridge. So I stopped buying it. Now I'm eating it and not wasting it. And another environmental change which I can make today which will further support my success is just keep offering good food to my family and being a good example. They will realize that it is not all bad and they can eat it too.

I stopped buying junk food as I know it will just lead to snacking. Also I have stopped reaching for food instantly when I am a little bored. I am going to limit my tv/computer use to 2 hrs a day. Sounds silly, but I know it will be good, I think, I hope, ahhh.

The biggest change is inside this cute little head of mind. I choose not to do things that will destroy my health, ruin my body and cause me pain.

Environmental changes I have made so far is to make sure I have plenty of cooked chicken breast on hand so I won't be tempted to eat a bad meal due to lack of a healthy meal. I have stocked my pantry with quick fix mash potatoes and with the precooked rice now available. My family consists of 2 children one 5 and the other 12, so there is always some junk food in the pantry. The next change I can make is to dedicate a section of the shelving for just my food or another cabinet all together for my stuff, and this is the only cabinet I'll go to when looking for food.

It's been hard for me as my hubby doesn't want to diet and he has a very sweet tooth so I bought him a medical cabinet and only he has the key! I don't need temptations but I don't want to deny him of his free will either I keep a journal on top of my microwave and shop once weekly for all the vegetables I need for that week I keep menus easy at hand and have also contemplated cooking all my meals on my free day for the week so when I get hungry or it becomes meal time i have my meals all I need to do is pop them in the microwave! I find myself getting hungry just prior to going to bed so I have decided to do 30 minutes of pilates before hitting the hay and surprisingly it is controlling those urges to eat before sleeping which up until recently has been a habit. I don't drink Soda anymore (In all honesty never really been a huge fan). I am looking into buying a bike machine thingy so I can do all my emails whilst peddling.

I am making a weekly menu for our family (helps with the budget, too!) Keeping healthy snacks. AND I keep my food journal on the counter - and write down what's going in the mouth before I eat it!

Creating the right environment - I don't do the fast food drive thru anymore (unless it it free day) or stop at the gas station for the daily pop.

Environmental changes - 1. bring lunch to work 2. plan meals on Sunday for 6 days 3. rejoin spin classes in order to be with people when I do cardio what I can do: spiritual environmental changes - download radio talk show t.com in order to stay positive during the day. love love love this one. Ellen

I wish I would be most of the people on this site. In some ways I am lucky, I don't worry about drinking because I can't add one more pollutant to my body. I take codeine for pain daily - that's the bad news. The good news is that I have significantly reduced the dose. And as I spend more time exercising and my muscles get stronger, I experience less pain - so I empty the capsules out to have the minimum amount of medication that I need. The second problem has been depression and anxiety. I finally decided to get on an antidepressant last week because all the positive thoughts weren't cutting it. I am starting to feel some relief already. Finally, but significantly the cigarettes had become a refuge from my emotions. These too are dwindling in numbers and this week I may see the last cigarette. This process has been very slow because of the pain I live in from the multiple surgeries. They never tell you that when they fix one thing, they will probably leave nerve damage behind for you to live with. Just getting up in the morning and getting the headaches to stop is a workout. But I am getting there. So, my journey has been about adding some things (antidepressants) and dropping others (cigarettes), and most importantly - not getting down on myself for not being like everyone else - that's that hardest one of all.

I knew this before yet haven't done as much as I should to change my environment! I still hang out with friends using drugs even though it doesn't tempt me....it is still stupid! On a positive note I have cleaned out junk snacks and through a lot of "taste-testing" with my daughter, found lots of nutritional snacks for us both for expample: carrots & low fat yogurt & trail mix(we make our own trail mix so I know what's in it)! I will be DEEP CLEANING/ORGANIZING our messy 2 bdrm apt today and 2mrw!! Messyness causes me anxiety so this should improve our lives as well!! wHO SAID "SPRING CLEANNING" is to happen only once in the spring?? I need to do this once or twice EVERY season! lol ; ) Also, quiting smoking will help more than anything else! Thanks for the evnvironment reminder for healthy/happiness!!!!!!!!

Hello Bill, this is so good.. For me it is not just keeping the junk food out, it is keeping healthy choices easily at my disposal. I don't know about anyone else but I have no problem driving to the nearest fastfood place if I am hungry. And if I am hungry, junk is usually what I want. So I keep my fridge loaded with already prepared chicken, salmon, brown rice, pasta, spagetti sauce and then also salad fruit veggies. Usually on Saturday I make a weeks worth of everything but dinners so it's all there. I have found this to help me more than anything...The really cool part is that even my children are making more healthy choices because there is less junk in the house. Thanks for this ~Tammy~

Right environment I have changed: Eating right foods during the day and Not having certain negative people around me all the time. Environment to change: Eating junk food at night with family and negative thinking to myself.

I fully agree that the discipline to maintain the correct environment is more important (and in many ways easier) that maintaining discipline in the wrong environment. However, you have to do both. If we are going to “be the change” we have to go out into the world. It would make no sense to hide our new-found inner light under a rock in a hermetically sealed, junk-food free fallout shelter. Not wanting to hide, and then maintaining discipline in a social environment is my biggest challenge. My wife does the shopping, and since we are doing this challenge together, she has been doing a great job of keeping the right foods in the house and the wrong foods out (the Toblerone and 5 dozen donuts being the notable exception…inside joke). I have also been doing a good job managing my environment by keeping to a stable routine. Monday-Friday from 6:00 AM to 7:00PM have been relatively easy. I get up at 5:30 and exercise. Breakfast is between 7:00 and 7:15 and then off to work. At 10:00 I eat a Pure Protein bar. Between 12:30 and 1:00 I have a “Bill-worthy” lunch that I pack myself – usually a turkey sandwich or leftovers from the previous night. Another Pure Protein bar around 3:30 and then a clean dinner between 6:00 and 6:30. Clockwork… no problem. There is always junk food around in my office. Today I spent all day almost within arm’s reach of a key lime cheesecake and a dozen Krispy Kremes. There is also a snack cabinet usually stocked with Oreos and a pharmacy-sized Prozac bottle filled with peanut M&Ms. Haven’t touched any of it in five weeks. Having a routine helps immensely. However, after 7:00PM on weekdays and weekends are a lot tougher. Eating has always been a big part of my leisure activity, and I always seem to be hungrier at night than I am during the day. One strategy that has been working for me so far is to get away from the kitchen. I have been going upstairs to my den after dinner clean-up to read-e-mail, watch the news or read. I usually stay up in my lair until 9:00 when it’s time to eat again – usually a Right shake. Then I come downstairs and watch an hour of TV with my wife and sometimes my teenage daughter when she deigns to be with us. Phew! Made it through another day. It’s a great environmental control strategy, but at what cost? Weekends are a lot tougher. When I get on a roll (been on one for five weeks, now) I tend to want to become a hermit. My challenge is to stay on track and still have some semblance of a life. One of my goals is to become more confident and outgoing and to develop deeper friendships. It’s hard to do that by yourself. I find it very hard to make good choices in social environments because of the variety of choices and concern about appearing to be self-righteous. Then, there’s the beer. I don’t have an alcohol problem…I have a food problem and alcohol is a dangerous trigger. Even one drink and my self control evaporates. Any suggestions on finding the sweet spot between maintaining a right environment and maintaining a life?

This is so on Bill. Monday was day one of my transformation and I had some icecream left over in the fridge from Sunday. I knew that if I kept it in the house I would eat it but then I told myself, you can wait till Sunday....you're strong enough. How stupid is that. Of course by the end of the day I had eaten the ice cream. You don't leave drugs and hang around drug addicts if your addicted to drugs. And you don't leave food in a house with a person who loves junk food & uses it as a crutch. So, out it went and cabinets are full of good foods. One thing I need to work on and acclamate into my everyday routine is not being part of the gossip. You know how it is...people call you and say...I need to vent....that's a lot of negative energy you are allowing into your world. I need to steer away from them and spin it to positive if I get caught up in it.

It's funny. One of the biggest changes I made recently had to do with my lunches. I work as an Instructor/Consultant at this absolutely beautiful, first class facility. It's like a college campus that's run by a cruise ship. There is a 1st class dining room with an award-winning chef who is highly talented. One of the "benefits" of my job is that I get lunch in the dining room any day I instruct which is most days. And of course, it's all-you-can-eat. At first, I thought, this is great. And there are usually healthy choices. After being here a year, I found I'd put on about 10 lbs. As I really got honest with myself, I realized that I'd allowed my lunches to get a little bigger... just a taste of this or a taste of that. I was putting myself in a bad environment. So I made the decison... no more dining room. I bring my lunch every day. I know what's in it, I know how it's prepared, and I know it's on plan. (Even the "healthy" things that chef makes are often just a bit too tasty, and I question how they've been prepared). The weight came back off, and I'm pushing it even further with this challenge. The second change I am making is controlling my interaction with co-workers. I won't let myself get sucked into negative discussions any more. No more complaining about this or that. Life is too short to spend on negativity! I'll continue to look for and find new ways to make my environment more positive and healthier. Bill, as always, thanks for the focus point. I really enjoy the focus each week on something that makes me better.

An environmental change I've made to contribute to the success I've had is to limit junk food---MY junk food. I also energetically shop each week for healthy, life giving foods to stock in my fridge. How I feel contributes to my desire to continue to make these right choices. Another change I could make is ensuring my home emotional environment is more stable. Significant hormonal levels here at the moment. :/ I am going to be better about reading positive books--making the time for it!

Wrong vs. Right” environments. Can you identify an “environmental change" which you’ve made so far which has helped you with your progress? And can you identify another environmental change which you can make today which will further support your success? My physical environments were fairly simple, I stopped buying junk foods to keep for when the grandkids came over. If they were there I would eat them and the grandkids wouldn’t have anything when they visited. Now I take them out and let them have a treat. I also know that if my favorite alcohol is on the counter and has been opened, it’s a sure bet that I’ll make myself a drink. I make it a point not to have any opened bottles. The law in my environment is a bottle of wine or any alcohol can only be opened for a special occasion and even then I will limit my self to how much I drink. I had a very close friend that I spoke with just about everyday. She was extremely depressing and I found myself feeling down after seeing her or talking with her on the phone. Everything I did she seemed to have a negative comment about. I had to distance myself from her and now associate with friends that are on the same positive path that I am on. Here are a few environmental changes in progress: I have been attending a few neighborhood churches. I am still looking for one I can call home. I have been reading. I was never a reader but I bought a few self help books and I find they are helping me not only with making myself aware of my situations and opening many doors that were locked for years but it is also helping with my reading skills. I am adding more advanced certifications to further my fitness career If nothing else comes from this challenge, these are a few changes that will have made it worth wile.

The change that has made the biggest impact on my life in this challenge has been mental. Making mental changes has allowed other changes to take place in my life. Replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts throughout this challenge has released me to become open to other possibilities. By becoming open I have removed limiting beliefs about myself and my capablities. I have begun exploring what I am capable of doing and becoming, not the stories I have been told of what I am capable of doing or not doing. I now know I am capable of eating healthy and taking care of myself. I am also capable of trying new things and experiencing growth in areas of my life I was told was not possible. My balance and strength has increased in all areas of my life, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. I firmly believe eating healthy and not only doing physical exercise, but mental, emotional and spiritual exercises has increased this balance and strength. When I am balanced I can make better decisions that not only affect me but others who are in my life.

My wife and I have never tended to bring much junk into the house. She did buy a bunch of Girl Scout Cookies when I first started the Challenge, but I’m finding my will power to be pretty strong. Free Day really helps too. By reviewing my goals and reasons for changing daily, I haven’t found it to hard to stick to my eating plan and avoid unplanned and “unauthorized” foods. And, of course, I had a lot of incentive to power through those Girl Scout cookies on free day to get them out of the house before Monday. Problem solved! Here are the environmental changes I’ve made so far: Spent more time with a community of people with like intentions – BFL.com and now Transforamtion.com Eliminated a lot of unproductive activities – reduced the amount and type of TV I watch and I’ve eliminated unproductive computer time. I’ve surrounded and immersed myself in the positive messages that keep me on track. I began by listening to the BFL book on CD in my car every day over and over. Now, I listen to Transformation Radio Podcasts. My environment is pretty clean now. The only area that remains a concern is what kind of stuff my wife brings into the house. As she’s watched my effort and resolve over the last couple of weeks, she has been making more of an effort to work on her own fitness and hasn’t been buying much if any junk. We’re going to the store today, so I have an opportunity to ask her for help and, in turn, help her avoid buying things she doesn’t belong eating either.

Probably the single most important environmental change we've made in our home is being more active as a family. We have turned off the TV and set daily limits for TV time, we spend our time outside on the weekends doing anything from planting a garden to riding our bikes. This is going to be a LIFESTYLE change for our family. A change to improve our health, both as individuals and our familial health. Spending quality time together keeps our relationships healthy. A change i've made this week is keeping a food journal. I'm writing down what I eat throughout the day. I've got a plan in my head each morning and by writing down the actual eating I keep myself on track. Even if I make a bad choice, I write it down. Answering to myself and being in a position to share that with others helps keep me on track. Leah

One of the environmental changes that I have made that has contributed to my progress the most has been keeping my success journal, the Eating for Life Cookbook, and some Muscle and Fitness Hers on the kitchen counter. These reminders keep me accountable and have been so helpful in keeping me on track. My next environmental changes include getting rid of paperwork clutter and eliminate mindless web browsing on the computer.

My previous answers to this assignment stand - I've kept junk food, nicotine and its paraphernalia out of my home. I've gone further, though, since originally answering this assignment. I have more light in my home - blinds are open during the day and more often than not windows and patio door are open (unless outside temperature just prevents it). This allows sunlight and fresh air into my environment. I reminds me that I am part of the world, not an inmate in my apartment. I've made changes to the emotional influences around me also. Excluding weather forecasts, I very rarely watch the generally negative news broadcasts. I watch very little television at all. My music choices have become much more uplifting. I read articles that promote healthy lifestyle. I avoid situations that are negative in my day to day life. I promote friendly conversation, and walk away from complaints unless I can do something to fix the situation. I will continue my new habit of going to the complex business center for my evening internet use. I will do this because it gets me out of the apartment for activity other than filing job applications and spending money (groceries, gasoline, etc). I will do this because having a set activity planned and a time to do it both place my mind back into a "work" environment that I have been lacking during my unemployment.

Hey Bill, I come to realize that eating 6 clean meals a day and for 6 days a week is working for me and I am able to tap into a source within myself and receive so much engery from it, it is so amazing. This is just the beginning of it,I look forward to the days ahead of me.

I have already started cleaning out the house after a free day...no need for further temptations. One area I have over looked is my office. I need to do a clean sweep of my office ASAP.

I've always distracted myself with food and things... too much junk of all kinds! So, I'm cleaning out my pantry AND I'm clearing the junk out of my house. Every time I consider buying something, I ask myself, "Do I REALLY need this?"

I no longer hang with folks who drink beer all the time which use to be one of my favorite things to do. Now If do drink its only on a free day, and ultra light beer at that. I take my clip board with me just about every where I go which has my planning, goals and journals to remind me where Im going.

My first change is not getting on the bathroom scale every day. I ws a scale addict, sometimes 3 times a day. And each time my mood altered. Scary. Now it's once a week for me. Second, because I have teenagers in the house, hence cookies and snacks in the cupboard, I check my food journal prior to entering the kitchen, open the pantry and get what I need without standing and staring at what else is in there. Once I've eaten I check my journal again, and give myself a pat on the back, and get away from the kitchen as fast as I can. :)

An environmental change I've made that has been helpful to my progress is getting the scale out of the house. It sounds small, but that crummy little device could ruin a whole day for me and instantly give me a negative view of myself all over again. Another environmental change I can make today to further support my success is to post my goals for this Transformation someplace where I will see them each day--I think it will be either the front of the fridge or on the bathroom mirror. --Melissa

Hey Bill, I keep more fruits and vegetables in the fridge now instead of left overs from unhealty places. I don't buy soft drinks anymore and only keep milk, juice and water in the fridge.

Hmm. Interesting idea. I actually have always eaten a clean diet and don't have a house full of vices. For me, it's not what is here, but what's missing. I spend a lot of my time alone. I could call a friend in the evening, but I often spend that time alone with a book. So, I'd really like to add something - human connections - rather than take something away. I'm going to create the gift of some time for connecting each evening, because I'm wasting away without it.

Changes I've already made are easy to list, and they've been crucial so far. There are no tobacco products in my home anymore, nor is there a bucket for cigarette butts on my back deck as there was for years. All junk food has been removed from my kitchen. The only drinks in my fridge are water bottles and skim milk. My gym bag is packed and ready to go. One of the changes I'm going to make today is to burn old Transformation Radio shows onto a CD so I can listen in the truck instead of only when next to the computer or mp3 player. Next, I'm going to figure out how to surround myself with more and more positive and uplifting people!

My biggest environmental change has been finding my "God Time". Every evening I think of what is happening the next day and figure out where I can get in about 30 minutes with Him (preplanning, hmmmm....). The other day I had to take the kids into school early for a volunteer breakfast and then I was meeting a friend for a run about 30 minutes after we were done. I took my bible and devotional book with me and sat in the car for my time that day! Then I had a great run :). I'm finding that it's helping me just focus and be happy! An environmental change I could make now would be to always have quick things on had that I can use in a pinch (shakes or bars would do the trick). My worst mistakes happen when I'm standing at the refrigerator just trying to make a decision. Preplanning helps with this too -- another change I need to keep working on!

One of the biggest environmental changes for me has been joining a gym. I had been unsuccessful in the past working out at home exclusively so entering that new, gym environment has been the biggest change for me. Especially since I have a specific plan of action as I enter. I always have my clipboard with me on my weight training days and get down to business! It is such a reward to me to have all the equipment I need right at my fingertips. As far as another environmental change I can make today is prepare for the week by filling my frig with plenty of cleaned and prepped, fresh and frozen, fruits and veggies and appropriate protein sources. I have a husband and kids who have not yet joined my way of eating but am plan to lead by example and not by NAGGING and LECTURING. My hubby sometimes brings snacks into the house that can be tempting but I continue to focus on my future vision.

For me..Meal planning has been a blessing. I shop once a week,when im not hungry. My free day food,is consumed outside of my home.I have a harder time putting it away if im relaxed at home.These are my top 2 Blessings... Always...Angela..Keep Smilin...

I found this assignment to be absolutely true, but am using the environmental practice in reverse. My environment is clean, but as a binge eater I can overeat or create anything to excess. So I'm finding that changing my environment by leaving my after pictures out (my head on the body I want), leaving my computer logged on to the transformation site so that I can read stuff as I have time, keeping my new, tighter deadline goals in front of me help keep me in line. Adding good stuff to my environment is helping.

I've made sure to have lots of healthy choices available. There is junk food in the house (I'm hosting a teen sleepover right now - so LOTS of junk food around..) I really pretty good about not getting into it - except Doritos, so I NEVER buy them. The biggest change I've made environmentally is that I'm not going out to eat very often - too challenging to make the right choices, and watch the portions, so I'm just avoiding it completely. Just an FYI for everyone, if you're interested in calorie counts for restaurant food go to DWLZ.com. It lists just about every restaurant known to man and breaks down the menus with nutrition counts.

My #1 environmental issue is where I work. I manage a Cinnamon Roll shop and a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. My best offense is will power. I have also given up drinking that occasional beer or wine. More and more positive things keep happening. My wife lets me shop and I follow my list very well. NO JUNK FOOD!!

Assignment # 7-I totally believe in the right environment. I always have the right food stocked in my fridge. I pack my lunch and dinner every day for work and only eat what I pack. Yes, people at work tease me about my apple slices and turkey. But that's ok. The next thing that would help is for me to clean out my house. I feel so out of sorts when things aren't organized and there is clutter. My house needs a good spring cleaning and I would feel a little more at ease if I could get things a bit more organized at home.

So far I have cleaned up my physical environment by buying right, clean foods. At this point my family still eats rather unhealthy, so I have bad foods in the refrigerator and pantry. I have also stopped watching TV almost altogether, and I don’t drink anymore. I am not saying I won’t have a drink on a free day once in a while, but I used to drink 3 or 4 times a week. My focus right now is to change what friends I hang out with. I love my friends, but at some point, I have to have supportive people around me. Also, I need to learn to prepare my clean foods ahead of time.

"As we continue along this journey we're going to have to purify our mental and emotional worlds." ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES that have helped me with my challenge so far. 1. Our fridge is now full of food that is easy to prepare and healthy to eat. Before we started the challenge it really wasn't what was in our fridge that was the problem. The problem was that there usually wasn't anything in there so we would end up just going down and getting fast food and eating that until we were uncomfortably full. 2. I have turned off the TV almost completly. TV watching was somthing I used to plan my evening around. I have come to realize that I can't use the excuse "I don't have time for that" if am able to spend 2-3 hours in frount of the TV at night. I now spend that time working out, reading and preparing for the next day. WHAT CAN I CHANGE TODAY One thing would be to get this home in order. When our home is clean and organized it seems like everyone is happier and everything just flows better. So today I will focus on that.

Assignment 7 was a bit hard at first however after approximately 7 weeks it has become natural. Basically, what I do is if I know that I am going to put myself in an atmosphere that I know isn’t going to be conducive with the goals that I want to achieve, I simply avoid it. For example, we don’t have junk food at the house (which is huge for me) because I have had a tendency to awake at night and go rob the fringe) if the unhealthy food inst around the impulse isn’t there. I've done the same when deciding where our not to go out with friends or family. If I know that they are going to a place that doesn’t have foods that are conducive with the Eating-for-methods, than I don’t go. I do not hang out with friends at bars or places where alcoholic beverages are severed because I don’t want to have to impulse to have a beer. The bottom line is this lesson is huge to ones success in transforming their life. This lesson can be used in many aspects of my life. Thanks

Assignment 7 is going to be hard for me. I live with 6 other people (two of my sons, a daughter in law, and 3 grandsons) so the needs and the diets varie greatly. I am going to ask my daughter in law to keep the junk food in a place in their bedroom and out of my reach. I am NOT going to buy those goodies for them anymore because I was and then if I was down or bored I would grab one whatever for myself and ruin all that I had worked hard for in getting healthy. This will happen. I will be out of town this weekend but I will be back on Sunday and I have Monday off. I will clean out all my cupboards and refrigerator and any areas that are within hands reach to me. I will plan my meals and snacks and keep my mind on the goals I want to reach.

Good Things - I am putting a pitcher of water out on the counter during the day to remind me to drink more. I have brought more fruit and cheese into the house. I have tried to up my protein, which was a biggy for me. Bad Things - my husband brings home chips, donuts, etc... he brings them home for the me and the kids. Sometimes it is easy to resist, other times not so easy. My goal is to get the yucky stuff out and more of the good stuff in.

Amen! Today I cleared out the junk food. I need to replace those with healthy snacks.

i've noticed that even when on my free day i have one beer or a glass of wine with my dinner it alters my weight and mobility to excersise, so three weeks ago i removed any alchohol i had in a house so i can move and progress foward. another step i am working on is removing my self from the areas in the kitchen at work wich contain junk foods.

Assignment 7: Environmental Changes such as removing all junk food in the house has not been accomplished yet. I have a wife and two children age 8 and 11 both girls and they like junk food. My transformation is for showing them that it can be done. Just this morning my wife was discussing with her mom about joining the gym that I am a member of. Outstanding change. Of course I am not going to say anything that would change that. That in itself is a huge movement forward. Now we just have to get her there. For my environmental changes I would have to list that the TV watching has changed. I used to get up early and watch TV and sit in a recliner doing absolutely nothing. Now I hit the gym at 4:30 or so with a group of people that are consistent in coming. I have also eliminated sodas. I used to drink about 18 cans of diet coke throughout a day(this was about a year ago). I cut back and now I drink water flavored with crystal light or just plain water. I buy bottled water at the store now so that I can bring some with me whereever I go. The other environmnetal change that I have made is to go to a Bible Study every Tuesday morning after working out with a group of guys that are from a different Religion, but are seeking the truth and getting closer to God. I am Baptist and they are Catholic. A more recent environmental change was to turn off the news shows such as CNN and Fox. It seemed as though everything was doom and gloom and I got sick and tired of the blame game. No one wants to take responsiblity for the problems or work towards a solution. They seem to want to blame someone else for the problems. So I qut watching them. I will work on getting the junk food out of the cabinets and getting the wife and kids into a better eating lifestyle. This will take some time and some outside help. I will look forward to any help anyone would like to give.

I keep Junk food (and not good food) away from me... with a family I can't keep it all out of the house - but I found the strength to ignore what little there is... and there is always free day (I tell myself). Though if I eat junk on free days now my body reacts :-) I have found that over the weeks I crave junk food less and less. My real secret is to keep plenty of healty options around, fresh and easy to use/make/or cook -and handy shakes. I have found that I can make a healthy meal quicker that ordering a bad one or making junk... so healty wins out every time.... (If you don't have it, read and plan to cook from 'Eating for life'....)

- TV is off by 11pm, no sleeping on the couch all night - No more Law and Order (SVU or Criminal Intent) –feeds negative energy -No TV shopping -Crochet while watching TV to keep hands busy; no food -A lot less TV altogether, including the news -Water bottles full and handy - Attend more Toastmaster meetings in friendly, forgiving place

The biggest environment change i've made that has also had the biggest impact on my progress has been removing alcohol from our home. It has never been a problem serious enough to keep me from getting things done, but that is the insidious nature of it. I know if it's around I'll be apt to drink it on the premise that it really doesn't keep from doing things. But the truth is it does affect the quality of the things I do as well as the energy I put into those things. this of course is not to mention all the empty calories. So, it's gone! As for what I can change now, I've been working hard to keep a clean environment since I started in T.com, so I had to think about what I could clean up next. What attracted me to T.com in the first place was the extra emphasis on not just improving physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, so it seems to me that the most important part of my environment to clean up is inside my head. Beginning today I will make it a point to catch myself whenever I start having negative thoughts. After all, perception is reality. I can create a positive or negative environment for myself just by the way I percieve things. I choose positive!

When I first did this assignment, this is what I wrote. Oh Man. I have learned that I can not have Oreo cookies in my home! They are actually the Neman O's so no trans fat but still! I have done everyting I can to make sure my home does not contain any foods that are not authorized. There are a few foods I can have around and not be botheres by them, such as popcorn and crackers heck even chips. But if there are Oreo cookies!!! It's all over. There are some foods we just can't resist. I totally recomend taking those foods out. If it's your freeday, go get an oreo shake. That's how I have had to change my environment. As far as working out. I have a gym membership but can't always go. So I have a set of Rebok Weights thatgo to 12.5 lbs and a set of 15lb weights that I work with at home when I can't go. I have to admit though. I am going to have to get a heavier weight or find some way to up it soon because it will not be enough in the next few workouts. I now see this assignment in a whole new light. After having my environment flipped around, upsidedown and backwards, I can see how this is so important!! I have learned, I can get comfortable in the environment I have created for myself but I have to remember that, at a moments notice, all that can change. What am I talking about. Well, Consider this; You ar emoving along in your challenge, posting like crazy, everything is going great. Then one day, WHAMMM! You are hit with some bad news. It could be anything, A loss of a loved one, loss of a job, or you have a terminal illness. These are all usually really bad news and will change your feelings and or environment in no time flat. For me, it was loss of a job. It drastically changed my environment. I was now home with my baby, trying to save on child care. Having to fit workouts in during naps and evening time still. The routine of preparing my meals for the day changed. I am home, why would I need to get them all ready for the day, right? lol. Well, I must say, if something drastically happens, don't drastically change your routine, hold onto it as if it's the thing that can remain constant. It is the thing you can controll! More than ever you are going to need that exercise time to reflect on your day, your life and the direction or action you are taking next. Use it as a tool. don't just give up because you are feeling hopeless about one or two things. I have learned as a mother that children really need consistancy in their life or it can be extremely stressful. I am not sure that adults are all that different, we just handel it better because of past experiences. To sum it up, I have learned that when my environment has a drastic change, that is when I need the most consistancy in my routine. Keep up the great work everyone and stay strong.

Yes!! The Power of a Positive Environment!! What a difference that makes. I've cleaned my kitchen OUT!! I enjoy the new diet!! I love the shakes!! It took physically making that change before my mind and body adjusted. HABIT!! It can be a strange thing. I lost my 6th & 7th week due to travel (spring break), because I lost focus. Even though I carried my free weights and shakes with me, I blew it!! I did ENJOY just being with my family, and it was WORTH it!! I'm that of a perfectionist, so if I don't do it perfect, I don't do it at all. I decided, as I've heard from many of you, progress, NOT perfection!! So I moved on with progress in my week 5 - 8. I love my new positive environment, from food, to traveling, to good friends. The mornings are filled with a small group of women. We start out with a proverbs for the day, prayer and then our mind is ready for the body. WE LOVE IT!! A positive environment is a MUST!!

One HUGE positive change that I have made is the fact that I don't allow myself to be poisoned by the views and epecially the negativity of others. I have always been strong-willed and very confident of my viewpoints, but I have always had a "tipping point". This is not the case anymore. If we are to lead by example, then how are we to expect people to see us as examples if we blow-about like leaves whenever somebody else's opinion derails us??

One of the environmental changed I have made is instead of watching tv shows about nothing, I am teaching myself about healthy eating and exercise. I am learning things that will help me in the future instead of just letting the day pass by me. Another change is my sleeping habits for sure, I see a lot of people here have made changes to their sleep schedule. I work 3rd shift so sleep is hard to come by, I sometimes have to make it through the day on 4 hours or less. I am learning that this is very unhealthy and will not help me achieve my goals I have set with this challenge. I have cut back on things that I feel are unnecessary wastes of time and have been using that time to try to get closer to 7-8 hours sleep a day.

I love this assignment!!! 2 things Ive eliminated in my environment. Well the first was eliminated for me because of my finances but instead of looking at it as a bummer I acually embraced it! That is my All Powerfull TElevision SET... Money is getting tight so I dropped my cable and I only get very basic And I needed the money so I sold the big TV. I watch much less tv now and Im happier for it! The Second Environment change is I dont keep any toxic anything in the kitchen anymore this includes junk foods, alcohol, Tobacco. THose were my stumbling blocks for sure!!!! Ok... what I can I change now to help further the cause of me being the difference..hmmmm I would have to say Sleep. I could be getting better sleep. I will set a time I will have to be to bed by and that will be law in my house! My last meal is usually at 9 pm. I will move it down to 830 pm and be in bed by 9:30 pm monday thru Friday!!!! Take Care Everyone And see you at Assignment 9 Ron N

An environmental change that I have made is that I have cleared all the junk food out of my apartment. I have also removed key components of coluld be a toxic combination of foods such as sugar free jelly which I could use to over dose on peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches. I need more sleep. I can get more sleep by setting a consistent time to go to sleep every night and by completing all the tasks I need to more efficiently and sooner in my day. I love progress. :)

Well Bill I've changed my environment by, doing away with all junk food in the house cause, if it's here I'll eat it. I've limit myself to one soda on free day ! The other day @ work was offered a milky way bar & refussed it. When I get the craving for sweets I just stick a piece of extra gum in my mouth that satisfies me.

ASSIGNMENT #7...One environmental thing I have changed since the beginning of the Transformation is using my coffee/newspaper time to actually leave the house and go to the gym. I have a gym set up in my house and I used to "see how I felt" in the morning in regard to using my home gym...then if I did not work out in the morning I would hit the gym on the way home from work. I realized that is a big set up for failure! I need to make the morning "Me" time and keep it religiously like I used to for my coffee and paper quiet time. It is working like a charm and I am loving my workouts. The 2nd thing is packing my meals before I leave the house for the day, each and every day. If I have a lunch planned at a doctor's office, I will evaluate it and know that I have a backup in case it is not suitable for my EFL plan...the weekends are only difficult if I let them be. I am planning out Saturday, just as carefully as M-F, so that I only use Sunday for a "Free-ish" Day. Thank you Bill for this assignment...it has me thinking about how many other things I have control over in my environment! My family likes to go to the movies, so I even pack my snack into the movie theater so I dont catch myself justifying something I would not have normally eaten. I do much better using my energy to make positive changes than focusing on what I can't have or do. This feels so good!

One of the environmental changes I have made is logging on to T.com everyday and reading and watching people take control of their lives in positive ways. I used to come home after work, see what I had to mix with my 7-up and think about what happened during the day. I am wondering, how much thinking did I actually do? Reading what I just wrote the answer is none! What is another environmental change I can make to support my success? This may sound a little strange to people who have spotless homes but I need to clean my house. I have always been an unorganized person with clutter everywhere. Clutter makes me feel good. Lately though it has been driving me absolutely crazy. I cannot find anything! I wonder… Did I throw it away? Did my wife put it somewhere where I cannot find it? Did I leave it at work? Did I even take it to work? I get frustrated, then angry and in a bad mood for the rest of the day. I do not want to be in a bad mood. It carries over to everything else in my environment and my environment does not deserve my bad mood. I have learned through the years that our personal environment is exactly the way we make it. Weather we create it intentionally or unintentionally and the hard part is keeping the unintentional in check. Starting with the physical clutter in my house (what a mess), I can concentrate more on my unintentional environmental clutter.

in Trans. #1 i learned that if i keep the junk out of the house we had to make a true evaluation of our hunger (or just boredom? or stress-eating?) and then make the better optioned choice if it was true hunger (authorized). In Trans #2 i am going for more of a MENTAL environment change...cleaning and decluttering and organizing files and papers...not getting overwhelmed by clutter and disorganization leaves me open and free and joyful...not dragged down and burdened by the mess. progress is being made!

I have made a change in my environment by not having any unauthorized food in the house. Any food left after free day is disposed of. It is "out of sight out of mind" for me. I have also organized my home office and I enjoy having a really neat place to work . I am focused on putting things away when I finish using them. I am watching very few news cast lately. I have found that I get down by hearing all the doom and gloom and gotcha politics featured on the newscast. I am concentrating on reading and listening to uplifting and truth based media. I want to be a factor in helping other people- not just be a spectator of the worlds problems. Since i have begun my transformation 12 weeks ago, I have been invited to join a local civic organization (Rotary) that begin each meeting with the following words-- Of the things we say, think, or do, First, Is it The Truth? Second, It is fair to all concerned? Third Will it build good will and better friendships? Fourth,Will it be beneficial to all concerned? I have joined and enjoy the experience.

I have the power cause I'm the mom I shop I cook I clean, I have certainly removed all the junk stuff I am tempted by in the house . When I shop I don't buy it and bring it in. the other three people which they don't always cooperate but for the most part bad stuff stays out . I don't bring free day stuff home any more and it's a 35 minute drive to town to get junk. today forward I can make a commitment to get in and clean out the pantry once a week so any junk that may catch a ride home on the others that live here can get thrown out.

Wrong vs Right wrong- buying coloric toxic junk food right- I buy authorized food wrong- Eat till gorgrd right- use a kitchen scale & smaller plates wrong- gym cloths unorganized right- pack gymbag niter before wrong- don't plan meals till I get in drive thru right- pack meals for the day....every day Changes that I realized that i need further my sucess......never missed a radio show....power of positive thinking....thanks Chris Winters....Not getting on my bathroom scale.....have weighed myself only once since week 4 (I did a pod test week 9 to track halfway point ) I picked this up in the chat room when Chris said he was not a slave to the scale.

Assignment #7- Right Environments I now pack my lunch everyday. I no longer hit the drivethru for the Greasy breakfast sandwich. I make my own at home with whole wheat low cal bun, egg whites, and slice of lean ham (Yum!). I seriously avoid negative people, and try not to be a negative person myself. I have stashed "legal" snacks everywhere (work, car), so I never have a food emergency. I set aside specific times of day and lengths of time to deal with the negative "triggers" that I know may put me into a downward spiral. I.E.: If I have to make a phone call that I'm dreading, I outline in my mind what I want to accomplish and say. I allow a specific amount of time for the conversation length. I don't allow myself to be roped into the long negative stuff. I take way more control in my relationships/interactions with others. Exercise is my priority. I don't go to the pubs with friends. I joined a running club to surround myself with positive energetic like-minded individuals. This is all helping, and overall I feel so much better, and fitter.

Bad Environments?! how about for lunch, visiting the local favs - mex and chinese. I haven't seen the inside of those restaurant since the start of T. Additionally I have changed the music selections to be more thoughtful and not just a driving beat. And third, my office is a positive area. If someone is being negative, one needs not to enter. Phone calls are harder to control, but I chose not to allow them to pull me down. Before, I would allow the negative influence to push me under and hold me there. This was causing some depression and totally depleting all my energies. I would then turn to terrible foods and sugars to try to bring the energy levels up. Not anymore...Thanks Bill for the insights.

I am really trying to keep the junk out and i have incorporated a gym in our spare room, the thing im gonna do to make this better is stop so much diet soda

Environment changes I have made include having a water bottle on my desk at work. Having a workout partner that knows I am committed to this process. One change I need to make immediately is preparing my meal ahead of time so that I am not scrambling at the last minute to find the right meal combination.

I have made two environment changes so far that have had a postive impact on my first four weeks of my transfomation challenge 1) is awalys having my food ready and package so I can stay on the eating plan everywhere I go; 2) wife and kids know that it is a priority for me to work out first thing in the morning. As far as what I can change going forward I'm working on implementing a workout and health eating atmosphere around the house with the wife and kids; I am doing this by examlpe!

Assignment #7, Environmental Changes, I make my grocery list up ahead up time, instead of being tempted in the store. That way, I consciously buy the the good foods, that will help me on this transformation. I also plan ahead of time, what I'm going to bring to work for lunch. Secondly, I pack my workout bag the night before and make sure I have my Ipod, bottle of water, etc. It helps me keep focused!

There is absolutly no "junk food" or unapproved food or ingrediants to make any of these foods in the house. I can add some pictures and other things to help motivate and keep me focused in the weight room for strength training.

It has been interesting so see how my enviornment has changed the last 12 weeks. I can't belive some of the changes I have made. Before, our family never ate healthy and I was addictted to sugar. I would always keep a treat on hand "just in case" I needed it. But now, there is no sugar in the house! I have tried to keep the junk food out, except on free days...which amazes. Plus I have focused on making small healthy meals for my family instead of quick, high-fat meals on the go. The best thing that has happened this week, is I got my husband to join the challenge. Now that he is on board, I feel we are un-stopable! He is excited to eat healthy and keep our enviornment "clean." This challenge is excting! I never thought I would know how to eat healthy...and I am REALLY doing it! The next thing about my enviornment I want to work on, is when we go out of town, I want to have meals and snacks planned before hand so we totally don't blow everything. This is a big challlenge for us. Wish me luck! I know I CAN do it, because I have made amazing changes thus far.

An "environmental change" I've made which has helped me with my progress is bringing a water bottle and healthy snacks with me to work each day. Packing these items makes sure that I get enough water as well as have healthy alternatives available whenever I need a snack. No vending machines! Today I will commit to creating a more positive environment at home by working to minimize sarcasm and negative talk.

Assignment 7 One thing I am doing to clear my environment is that I do not keep junk food in the house anymore. It is hard with my wife not on the plan, but I try. I used to keep ice cream in the house, but not anymore. Now, if we want ice cream, we have it on my free day and we go to the ice creams hop to get it in that one serving. This way, I'm not tempted each day, and I can spend time with my family eating ice cream...and that's a great thing. Today, I will start to be more proactive in cleaning up after myself and the kids so I make Andrea's time easier and pave the way for less stress surrounding my going to the gym.

One of the first things I did when starting this Transformation "period" was to tell my co-workers. We have bagel and cream cheese days and although my boss always buys me wheat bagels, but I knew they had to be "off-limits" 100% for awhile. I am also very fond of chocolate and can be bribed and everyone knows it so I simply said that for the next few months please don't bring any in. My wishes have been respected so I have no temptations at work. I have to confess though to eating a few Valentine chocolates. Instead of bringing them in though two weeks before Valentine's Day :O I brought them in the day of. I loaded my work refrigerator with protein drinks, fruit, salad fixings, and tons of little yogurt cups and a huge container of fresh flaxseed. I re-stock every Monday (not the Flaxseed though- it might have come from Costco- enough said). We don't bring much "junk" food in the house so it is not a problem at home. One of our weakness that I allow for is chips & salsa. We get organic corn tortillas so I feel good about eating them (in moderation). Our cupboards are full of nuts and dried fruit so those are our snacks. We all do frequently enjoy chocolate covered strawberries and I do not have any guilt when I eat them- I ENJOY every bite! I am going out of state in three weeks and have asked a family member to get me a pass at the gym so I can get in at least 2 workouts while I away. I am very anxious because I sensed an "Oh, you need what while you are here attitude.' It is just part of setting boundaries. It is a lifelong process for me. If no pass is waiting for me or if I sense attitude my plan is to try running while I am there. It is difficult for me to run because I have a herniated disc, but I will try my best. I'm also asking for a few specific foods, but I've done that before so it shouldn't be that big of a deal. I have to compromise a bit and that is going to have to be okay. At least I have "put it out there" what my needs are. Love and light, I need sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Wow! We have gotten rid of all the junk foods in the cabinets! We have fresh fruits and veggies. When we go to a job or have to stay in a hotel we pack a lunch/ dinner! My wife and I have become walking ambassadors for the book: The Go-Giver. If you haven’t read this book, make it a goal to read it now. It will only take you a couple of hours (at the most). The author is Bob Burg. I need to start going to church, I need to take my family to church!

Creating Right environments - 1.) My fridge and cabinets are free of potential binge foods. This even includes tasty candy like protien bars. 2) meals are planned ahead 3) Workouts are scheduled not fit in. 4) I am surrounded by food at work. I plan healthy snacks at work and have extra RTD protien shakes in case it gets busy. The food at work is 'diet' food and tasty but it is not part or my Transformation nutritional program. 5) I set an example at work and decline the free snack provided at our meetings. 6) I try to set an example with a positive mental attitude. Some of my co-workers are VERY negative so I have to work really hard on this.

I have found avoiding the negatiive environments relatively easy. I no longer go to the work cafeteria, where even when you bring a lunch still provides too many temptations. My wife and I skipped the St Pat's party, that was really an adult keg party. BUT, I am still having difficulty wrapping my mind around the idea of creating the right environment. I have struggled to have my workouts completed first thing in the morning, because I am rushing in the am with preping and packing ,meals, and helping get kids off. I know to accomplish my goal I have to shower the night before,have my own clothes out, etc....But I feel like this is something that I have to do. By not doing it this is holding me back in my own mind. Next challange is the coming summer! My home is the traditional family party spot in the summer. By the time Memorial day comes, I will have completed my 1st 18 weeks, and will be looking for ideas on how tocreate an environment that is stil festive for all but appropriate food and activity choices too! Please...I am open for suggestions.......DAN

I have made lots of progress on this assignment over the years....(1) I never watch the news or shows with murdering/violence on it (2) I remove myself from social settings that are negative in nature, (3) I will change the subject when someone is talking to me and insisting on negative conversation (4) I find social communities that are uplifting like Center for Spiritual Living, taking the classes there as well. (5) I end unhealthy relationships with men (and women) faster now.

Some positive environmental changes that I have made are: 1) I put a list on my iphone of those restaurants I will go to and those menu items I will eat so the decision is made ahead of time and not in a moment of weakness when my friends want to eat out. 2) When my lower level habit of making excuses why I couldn’t to something reared its ugly head, I determined to find a way to do the exercises at home that my dance instructor wants me to do. He wanted me to use resistance bands to slide my foot on the floor to strengthen my reach but I had initially told him that I couldn’t because I didn’t have wood floors. I realized that was just an excuse and set about trying to find a way to do it. The answer came in the way of a furniture mover slider. I can use it on carpet or tile floors. 3) I now eat 6 times a day and because I live alone, I emptied out the fridge of junk food and take up the empty space with three small dollar store Styrofoam ice chests. When I get groceries I take them out and put them back as I use the food. This also saves energy because the refrigerator doesn’t have to work to cool all the dead space. I also put one in the freezer if it gets low on food. Some positive environmental changes that I plan to make are: 1) Completing and hanging a vision board with my Transformation goals and other short and long term goals. 2) Setting up a home gym to have no excuse if for some reason I can’t to the gym. 3) Unfortunately, usually the only time I see my children is when they can get a free meal. I plan to change a habit of meeting them at a restaurant to preparing meals at home from the “Eating For Life” book. I have hesitated to have them over much because I struggle with mental attitude sins. I allow myself to get bothered that my new daughter-in-law never offers to help and rarely says ‘thank you’ even when I treat her out. My reaction to that is my problem not hers.

I would have to say that I have a good friend that I like to go shopping with, and in the past, we would always go to lunch (never healthy), and now, I have cut down on going, and if I do, I insist we go to a place where I can get something healthy. Also, we have family sit down meals with usually EFL meals, and conversation, as opposed to dinner in front of the TV. I would like to start having a quality devotional time with my husband and kids, so that we can put God's word into our hearts, and be closer as a family. I like to say "garbage in, garbage out"..which is pretty true.

Environmental changes: One of the most important changes that needed to happen in my home environment was the refrigerator and the pantry. It seems if the wrong food is there I will eat it. All foods that are not healthy are out of my pantry and refrigerator. This is harder to maintain when Josh is in from school he is used to eating unhealthy foods late at night, so he thinks our refrigerator and pantry are empty and does a lot of complaining. Oh well. Our house is small and filled to the brim with stuff. I know I need to cut back on what I keep, but it is hard. Many of the items that we don’t need are left from my family or Marty’s family and it is really, really hard to dump. How do u dump an antique or something that reminds you of your youth? On my to do list is cutting back, we even have someone who will take the stuff to the dump or Salvation Army. This is going to be a slow process. I’m trying to see if one of my kids wants anything, guess that is called pass the stuff, some of it is theirs anyway. The plan is to have the excess out by the end of May (sooner if at all possible). We have set up a workout area on the front porch, this area can only be used in the late spring to late fall. when we can use it, It is a great place to work out late at night I know there are all night gyms but I personally don’t feel safe at an all night gym. I want to set up a place to meditate, just a quiet out of the way place where distraction are at a minimum it is strange that we don’t have a specific place to pray in. we usually do.

I have chosen to be a victor and not a victim, to be blessed, and try to live as a virtuous women. I fill my mind with God's encouraging words and ask him to put me where he needs me everyday. It is amazing the people that are around you who need you when God opens your eyes and makes you aware. I am seeking to find music that feeds my soul. I am cooking healthy in larger portions, so I always have left overs for lunch and snacks. I have a problem with drinking water, so that is going to be my next hurdle....water only in the refrigerator!!!

ASSIGNMENT # 7 continued...choosing the right environments I woke up this morning, and as I made the boys' lunches for school, I continued to think about RIGHT ENVIRONMENTS. For me, this is a huge project (choosing or changing my environments to make them "RIGHT") for me. This task sometimes involves other people who are not on board with my project; or maybe they are happy for me, but don't want to be directly involved...like my boys, and my husband, who enjoy their cookies, cakes and ice cream in moderation, but these items are TOXIC for me (and them~). Not everyone agrees, or has disordered eating with these items like I do, so they tend to balk at the idea of getting rid of it all. In fact, I cannot control it 100%, but I'm trying to teach them WHY they need to make better choices for their future. At times I still I find them trading food at lunch time with their friends, etc. So for now, I'm using the air-bag theory. I'm changing myself and my home first...BE-ing the change that I want in my environment. You know, when you're flying, put on your air bag first before you help your infant...I'm gradually switching out the bad stuff and incorporating the good for them, because I love them and I can see where this is headed... So to continue on with this discussion, it also applies to every area of my life, be it work, church, friends, family, etc. I find that I cannot change the whole world, but I can change MY WORLD, and in doing so, it is a domino effect on the circles of influence radiating out from me...like the epicenter of an earthquake...it shakes up everything within a radius...for the GOOD! I can choose to act like God would act in a situation, loving unconditionally, instead of the usual gut reaction (like anger). It takes standing watch, and dwelling on self-control and peace. This is not natural or easy, and it takes practice, but I think that is how I can BE the change. Monday, March 23, 2009 A Soul Distressed from EXPERIENCING GOD, devotional He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch." (Mark 14:33b-34) Who can know the depth and intensity of the heart of God? No one could measure His sorrow over an unrepentant sinner or His joy over a spiritual rebel who relinquishes everything to Him. We can begin to understand what is on the heart of God only when He shares His heart with us (Amos 3:7). Are you aware of the fervent emotions in the soul of your Lord, as He carries the weight of the world? The disciples were unaware of the deep anguish in the heart of Jesus. Yet, He willingly shared His heart with them. The disciples often seemed disoriented to what Jesus was feeling. When He took delight in young children, His disciples attempted to chase them away (Luke 18:15–16). When Jesus had compassion for a woman living in sin, they acted confused (John 4:27). While Jesus wept at the hopelessness of those facing death, His closest friends grieved as if Jesus had no power to raise the dead (John 11:1–44). You can choose to be alert to the heart of God. As you seek to understand what God is feeling, He may share with you the intensity of His heart. When you are around other people, God may sensitize you to the love He feels for them. When you see others suffering, you may feel the compassion Jesus feels. When sinners return to God in repentance, you may share the Father’s joy. You will react to evil the way Jesus reacts. If you will remain alert in prayer, Jesus will share His heart with you.

An environmental change I've made is to not own a television. I also only have healthy, approved foods and drinks in the house. I have made my environment one that helps me to feel comfortable with doing what I need to do to succeed in completing this challenge. I surround myself with positive people who are supportive of the lifestyle changes I'm making. My partner has hung my artwork in the house and that helps to reinforce my creative goals and motivates me to use my artistic talents as part of this transformation process.

It's so true that your environment has the opportunity to control you... but it's your thoughts and personal positive choices that create what environment you want to be in. For my environment over the past few years, I have allowed whatever is around me to consume me and make my choices. Well, that stops today!!! There have been quite a few environmental changes that I've placed in my life to aid me in my transformation. One was definetly ordering the Right shakes and keeping one with me in a bag at all times. This eliminates the need to look for something to eat while I'm at work that is unhealthy. Another is getting up in the mornings (bright and early) before my family has ever thought of getting up to go and workout. This time is "Shawn Time" and most of the time it's my only time to get my workouts accomplished. Next, my wife and I have sat down and communicated our nutrition plan together and looked at how our family, as a whole, can eat healthy and properly together. We have come to the conclusion that dinner meals are a family event and new entrees are to be serves and tried at this time. We're trying a lot of meals from the EFL book from Bill and pending my work schedule, (shift work), we aspire to eat together. It's a lot harder though than it use to be for me. For the longest time I was a geographical bachelor living in San Diego with the Navy and my wife and children lived in Salt Lake City. Being by myself, it was the easiest thing controling my environment. Now, having 3 children and a schedule that's ever changing, the difficulty has increased ten fold. This is where my communication and perseverence with my wife takes hold. I couldn't do this without her and together we make the household stronger and organized nutritionally. It's an never ending tug-o-war with my environment, but along with this assignment and assignment #8, I know that it will be completed. ~Shawn

ASSIGNMENT # 7 - Right Environments This is actually one of the hardest assignments for me to face, because when I started doing my 12-step work several weeks ago, it was like I "woke-up" and looked around me and felt quite overwhelmed at everything that (to me) I had "let go of"...like an unweeded garden towering above me; I felt very unorganized with my own shape, clutter, and just too much stuff-to-do. Sometimes I have made a healthy environment unhealthy because of my dependence on sugar & all of the weird habits that have accompanied my insane behavior to hide it for so long. I decided to take it one day at a time and work on certain areas (focus) so that I could see immediate improvement, which would be good for my spirit. A few things I have changed recently are as follows: 1. Instead of coming straight home from work and hitting the couch or cooking dinner, laundry, etc., I take a detour to the pool, and do my laps at work, unwind, dream, think about my program before getting home. This habit has been very hard to change because I felt "guilty" about it. I realize now that I am a more relaxed person and a better wife and mom when I get home because I work out the stress of my day before walking in the door. I am able to do this three days a week, so that is progress for me. 2. There are certain stores I avoid now, because shopping at them is too tempting for me. 3. I am learning that I cannot change people, and sometimes I have to remove myself from the environment in order for things to change. This takes effort on my part to actually DO IT, and change my behavior and not get caught up in something that is not directly related to my goal, or something that may not be good for me (it may be a trigger). 4. I am seeking "right" environments (like the pool and working in my garden), where I find peace and serenity, so the more of those type of places I can find or "create", the better I feel.

One environmental change that has helped my progress so far is the fact that I have surronded myself with others on this site, daily, for accountability, strength and positive focus. An environmental change I will add today in order to help my future progress is to start giving more to others in the way of encouragement and support; to reach out and really GIVE of myself.

Environmental change I have made - being sure to use EFL as a guide and prepare my shopping list based on those food selections. One I am going make - join others whenever possible in exercise, e.g. classes, joining a gym, walks, meetups etc.

I thought that I completed this asignment a few weeks back, but I can't find my respone so just to make sure I am going to post again. I know I spent some time really thinking about this because I feel I have made several environmental changes. Both inside nd physical. I think one of the biggest insdie changes I have tried to make is surrounding myself with more positive people. I did not realize it at the time and always thought I was just helping someone but my lifestyle before was surrounded by negative energy and pople with bad attitudes. They do not contribute to my own bad attitude for I have learend only I am responsible for that, but surrounding myself wih more positive people that see the glass in life half full instead of empty has helped my own mental state. For the physical part of the environmental change I no longer hang out in crouds where smoking is involved. I have not brought soda into my house in over 3 months. Even with guests if they want soda they have to bring it themselves because I no longer offer it. Mountain dew was a huge addiction for me drinking a minimum of a 6 pack a day old habits are gone! When I really put dep thought into this question and go beyond the surface it actually brings tars to my eyes to see the person I was before. I can't believe some of things I used o do and the way I lived. I no longer know that person so to think of all the changes in this is huge for me!

Well, there are many environmental changes that I have made and need to be made but I will list just one of each here and blog about this. One thing I have changed is that I have created an organized binder that goes beside my bed at night and comes with me everywhere that I use to log, reflect, etc. I know that having this in my environment at all times has made a huge difference. One environmental change that I keep saying I am going to make but never seem to get to is getting my house organized. Now is the time, I will make this happen over the course of this weekend!!!!---Kerri---

I've stopped buying junk food and I've filled my fridge and cupboards with healthy fresh foods. I've also become much more positive, instead of feeling hopeless all the time I'm starting to see the world for its possibilites and potential. I no longer go to bed everynight hating life, instead I go to sleep looking forward to tomorrow, knowing that God has a plan for my life. One of the things that I'm going to work on changing this coming week is to keep my house clean and be more organized. I've come to realize that all the clutter and mess are not contributing to a positve environment.

1 I am being kept accountable with a phone call. I have to explain weather or ont my workouts have been done. (there is someone pushing me now before there was no one) 2 I needed to drink less soda and drink more water. there is no soda in the house to tempt me. 3 If I want to eat all the right foods and none of the bad foods, then I need the good foods in the house and not the bad.

Assignment # 7 Environmental Change I have made… I have added a small home gym to my house so I can get up each morning and go downstairs to get in my workouts. No excuses. I keep very little junk food in my house (I have a hard day finding it on my free days…lol!). I have also opened up and made myself a lot more accountable about this challenge which has really helped keep me on track. Also, I have found so much positive energy on the website. It feels good to talk to others and give them encouragement and to receive the same from all of my friends I have made here so far. This website has been a huge part of my success and keeping my environment positive. Environment Change I will make today… To keep myself promise of getting out of bed on time each morning to complete my workouts. It is now the first thing I write in my journal at night for the next day. Plus, my progress has helped me keep my environment clean. Each time I look in the mirror, or can fit into clothes I could not wear before, it has helped me stay on track and to keep pushing forward.

One change I have made is to limit my time around negative people, Sometimes you cannot stop being around negative people altogether but you can always limit that time. One change I need to make is to eliminate unhealthy food from being around on my eating clean days. I have been trying to "be strong" and failing miserably.

One environmental change I have made is that I keep caffeinated drinks out of my house. I find that if I allow myself to drink them I start to depend on them for my energy. First it was diet coke, then I gave that up and it quickly became coffee. It gives me a high and then my energy crashes down while my appitite goes up. I am much better off if I stick with water. A change I could make today is to always have a bar in my purse when I go out. That way if I am ever out longer than I expect I can grab it rather than something that won't bring me any nutrition or energy.

Changes in our life include a gym membership through work, a schedule that accomodates this membership, getting my mom on board ( candy laden care packages have been replaced with workout gear), getting my hubby on board( we now make time for working out and there has been a dinner plate revolution) and stocking my shelves at work and at home with veggies.

Assignment # 7 is much like 6 without realizing it.... funny how that worked. My progress was also the change in my environment. I quit smoking, I started filling my days with my studies instead of TV and I workout now to relieve the stress instead of eat to relieve the stress. I cleansed my environment through my progress. I see how this works and it is genius as long as you do it.

1--One "environmental change" I've made so far that has been a tremendous help is that I have ABSOLUTELY NO JUNK FOOD OR SWEETS AT MY HOUSE. If it's my free day, I budget to enjoy my cravings outside of my house usually at a restaurant or I make it something small enough that I can finish it on my free day. 2-- An environmental change I can make today is to consistently TAKE APPROPRIATE FOOD WITH ME when I go out of town and to not depend on where I stay to have the food I should be eating. This is easier if my out of town travels are to visit family. I can also make one of the days I'm out of town my free day. Otherwise, I scope out ahead of time what restaurants, etc. I can go to that will have appropriate food I can eat. Thanks for this assignment Bill! It was great. I have a new way to look at discipline in utilizing what I can to keep myself out of the wrong environments so I can succeed in my transformation.

We just don't buy the junk any more! I try to keep sweet hard candy in supply so when I have those late night cravings, I just pop 2 of them in my mouth....yes I said 2 of them, I love the massive gush of the favors (usually butterscotch). When we go to a job or if I'm going to be away for the day, we pack a lunch of healthy things to eat. Probably the favorite thing for me is the protein shake, it tastes great, its filling and its healthy. Joe

Assignment #7 The Power of the Right Environment One Positive change I have made so far... I have gotten my whole family behind me in this experience. They understand that without their help, I could never do this! They are my lifeline. They rescue me when the days get tough. One more change I can make today... I can surround myself with uplifing books and literature. I need to get rid of negative thoughts, the minute they arise. This reminds me of a story. There was a young apprentice that was struggling within himself. He felt that there were not one, but 2 people inside of him. He said it was like having 2 different animals inside of him. One was like a kitten, just wanted love and acceptance. It wanted to do good in the world. It wanted to reach out to others, and offer comfort. He said the other was like a ravanous beast, only wanting to kill, and take from the world. Never give back, never do any good. Only destroy. He said "Master, what am I to do?" I feel like they are constantly at war with each other, within me. I feel like it is tearing me apart. Master "Which one will survive, which one will I become?" The master said "The one that you feed!" (Story paraphrased big time, but I remember the general idea. It is so powerful and true.) I am greatful that here at transformation we get to feed the Kitten, and eventually that wolf will die! If anyone knows the original story, I would love for you to post it and let me know) xoxo, Terri

Assignment #7 This assignment was easy for me since it is something that I have been doing for the past year. Slowly but surely, making changes. FOOD: I have incorperated vegetables into almost everything I eat. Omlettes, salads, soups, meals and snacks. This is a way of eating for me now since I really enjoy all the different flavors that are healthy. I no longer bring any chips or pop into the house. This goes for boxed meals as well.. i work with two girls who are on weight watchers and it kils me to watch them eat boxed meals everyday as they complain about the taste and price. It is so much more satisfying to eat BFL way. Someday they will listen to me:) EXCERCISE: Excercise is a big part of my life. Every day after work and on Saturdays, I am at the gym. I have discovered that I have to have this in my life. I just love the challenge and natural high it gives me to push myself to higher levels. I am currently after 7 weeks down a clothes size and lost a total of 8 pounds. SPIRTUAL: The most important part to me, not only have I grown closer to God but, I have made the change to join a church and get my family involved. The changes that are going on on my inside is as important to me as the outside. I feel differently about people, work and life in general. to sum it up... I am Happy! i still have a lot to learn but welcome the challenge and the lessons God is trying to teach me.

I can think of several environmental changes that have happened, or should happen in my life to build a healthier life for myself and my family. Changes I've Already Made Smaller Dinners--I have already started to make much smaller dinners for our family. The hardest thing that I have noticed so far, is throwing food away. I hate to waste food, every time I'm about to throw food away, I want to eat it to keep from wasting. Now, I just make less food, and I no longer eat what my children leave behind. A Restaurant Plan--I do not eat at restaurants unless I know in advance that they have food that I can eat. I only eat half of what they serve me and my husband and I often share a dinner now. Exercise First--I do not eat breakfast in the morning until I have exercised. This keeps me from pushing it off later and later until I am too tired to even consider it. Hunger is a good motivator for me. I start getting really serious about getting a workout in when I start wanting breakfast. Early morning is the best environment for exercise for my family and schedule and I respect that. The Phone Can Wait--I no longer answer my phone or log on to my computer during the day until I have had time to exercise, pray, read, get my children ready, make breakfast, and help my children with music lessons. The phone and computer suck my time away from things that are more important if I am not careful. Then, after all of the firt-things-first items are done, I am happy to take a phone call or get on the computer. This creates more peace in our home. Less stress= happier husband, happier children, less emotional eating, and all around peace. Healthy Food on Hand--A well stocked refrigerator is the key to staying on track for me. When there is healthy, easy, fresh and yummy food on hand, I love to eat healthy. This means that I stop at the store a few times a week, but I'm amazed at how fast I can get in and out of there when you don't have to go up and down every aisle! Changes I still Need to Make Prepared Foods--I will often eat a frozen commercially prepared meal instead of making my own food. I don't think that this is that bad if it is done in a pinch, but I feel like I could get healthier, not to mention, cheaper food if I prepared more of it myself. My family would also benefit from a healthy family meal. Healthy Kids- Although I am not eating it, I still have been feeding my children too much sugar and treats. They are starting to look at our pantry as Moms food, and their food. I think that I've given them the impression that you only need to eat healthy if you want to loose weight! Not the impression I want to leave with them. I will start articulating healthy eating to my children and implementing healthy snacks.

Since habits so often form in a stimulus-response nature, environment is a huge factor in how we got to be the people we don't want to be anymore. Reflexes are the body's responses to a situation that bypass the thinking part of the nervous system and simply act according to a pre-programmed set of instructions. Your muscles don't wait for your brain to tell you to take your hand off the hot stove stove; the signals from the pain receptors go only so far as the spinal cord before the message is sent: PULL YOUR HAND AWAY! Many of our bad habits act as reflexive actions. We reach for that soda or that bag of chips without really thinking about it, and literally before we even realize we have put garbage in our bodies. Reflexes can be trained though, as anyone who has studied martial arts could likely tell you. You can retrain your body to react in a different way so that you carry out the actions you want without having to expend the effort of conscious thought. To me, that's part of what right environment is about; training yourself to become reflexive in your positive choices. With that thought, on to the assignment.... 1. Can you identify an “environmental change" which you’ve made so far which has helped you with your progress? I’ve cleaned most of the junk food out of my “snack drawer” in my desk at work. That was always my refuge during a stressful day. I also try to stay out of the pantry as much as possible since that is where any bad foods in our house would reside. We also no longer keep pop in the house…if anyone wants one they need to get it elsewhere. The biggest problem I’ve had is that the bad food was just always so convenient to grab at a moment’s notice, so I’ve worked to make it so that I would have to go out of my way to get to the bad stuff. 2. And can you identify another environmental change which you can make today which will further support your success? Stay away from parties and especially potlucks. As I told Dude on the phone the other day, I’ve never met a cheese tray I didn’t like. Between a cookie tray and a cheese tray, I’m more likely to go for the cheese….over, and over, and over, and over. Potlucks always provide way too many options for fatty taco dips, cheese trays, cookies, and a whole host of other things that are bad for you but taste so good. So for the time being I am staying away altogether.

I have cleaned out my drawers and closet, getting rid of "stuff" that is clogging up my life & "Blocking" the flow of POSITIVITY in my life...Making room for GOOD, POSITIVE things to come into my life! ** I listen to mostly Christian Music now. I started this last Challenge, but have really made it a Priority now. I love Praising God through the music! I usually workout to Christian music now, and use my workout time as my "Me-N-God Time". I LOVE doing that! The only time I during my workouts that I dont listen to Christian music is when I get to my Level 9's and my High Point on HIIT-then I switch my Ipod to super fast "clubbin" music. **I have stopped watching Prison and Gang shows on TV. Actually I have stopped watching almost all really violent shows--which is what I used to spend most of my TV time on. Now, I choose to watch Reality shows such as Top Chef, Biggest Loser, Survivor, etc and comedy shows (Love love LOVE Seinfeld & The Office!) I also try to catch Joyce Meyers when I have the chance--that woman can Speak the WORD! :) **A few other changes that I have made to my environment: *I bought new sheets (700 Count!) and a new blanket to help me relax, sleep and beat insomnia. (it helps!) :) * I have Protein powder or other clean nutritious food choices (fresh fruit, tuna packs, bars) available in my truck so that I dont need to stop at fast food or get over hungry when Im on the road or get help over at work. * I have surrounded myself with Positive, God-Based books instead of gossip & fashion magazines * Worship/ "God-N-Me" Time FIRST THING every morning! **What Can I do today to Change my Environment to support my success? * Post my Goals next to my bed * Post my "WHY" Statement on that same wall * Print out & POST my Before pics/Assignment # 1 next to my bed * Start Clean-Up at Chris' house so that if and when I decide to move in, I can. (And it would help me to stop stressing over things being everywhere when Im there) * Make my clean food, supplements more accessible by moving them to the FRONT of the pantry, buy more fod containers.

I'm cleaning out the sugar art (as in melting chocolate, cake decorating supplies, sugar, etc) and putting my "hobby" to rest for now, so I have room to do my sit ups! I am choosing one (focus draining ) "hobby" at a time to tuck away, so they are are not screaming "FAILURE! INCOMPLETED whatever" at me every time I walk in the room (any room, for that matter!). I'm replacing my TV guide with running shoes, and my magazines with my Eating For Life book. One thing at a time....one day at a time....one hobby at a time. Now, to find a box for my cake pans....

T.com Assignment #7...Hello Bill and fellow transformers who visit. I'm with MickyO, popcorn with butter sounds like my kind of snack, in fact, it served as many dinners growing up! But some day I hope to have a FREE day and it will come in handy...until then, for the first time in my life I have conditioned my mind to LISTEN to my HIGHER SELF telling me "DON'T DO IT!!!" And it actually works! Becoming healthy this year, I mean healing my un-healthy body that has been troubling me for some time now is MY PRIORITY and nothing will stand in my way! NOTHING!!!! So for those crunchy, fixes, I SPLURGE on celery. And not all celery is created equal, believe you me. I have become a connoisseure (is there spell check on this thing? LOL) I NEVER really knew what celery actually tasted like....the very word caused me to reach for peanut butter and GOBBS of it so I didn't have to taste the cold green thing beneath it....you know, it's not so bad. I actually crave it and enjoy it very much. TRIVIA: did you know that celery is actually a NEGATIVE Calorie food and because it is so difficult for the body to assimilate that it revs up the metabolism higher than normal and cause you to burn even more fat in the process??? I LOVE THIS CRUNCH now! Now to address the salty....no more nuts, because I cannot just stop at one handful, so I buy organic pepitas (natural) and I roast them myself in the oven with sea salt and one squirt of olive oil in a spray can. Dense in calories, but a treat that I don't over indulge in that are better for you than NUTS! When you are eating RIGHT, you don't have cravings to deal with, and when you are eating meals every three hours, you don't have room to think about junk food! It really works! I keep my freezer stocked with VEGETABLES so I NEVER run out of food. This way, I just need eggs to whip up an omelette at any time of day or throw a bag full of a stir-fry mixture and make a warm soup, or just plain steam them as a side for chicken or any protein of choice. Before, I never really planned "MEALS", and when I was really hungry I didn't have the food to make the meal. Now I always have something HEALTHY on hand! As far as PROTEIN BAR snacks...that's exactly what they should be, something to cure the craving for chocolate or sweets, but that's only in the beginning, and it's in your head. When your body is truly satiated with enough of everything, especially protein, you won't have sweet or chocolate cravings, but every now and then, women use that time of the month as their reason for craving chocolate, so for those RARE occassions, cut that favorite chocolate protein bar up in small little pieces and keep in a baggy. The tiny little pieces remind you of how "rich" they really are and that just a few tiny bites is all you need to curb the appetite! I LOVED the ORIGINAL MYOPLEX DELUXE BARS in CHOCOLATE!!!! Hmmmm...I can still taste them. Bill, please bring them back, better than ever! No bad ingredients please! These minor changes have helped transform my "toxic environment" to a "healthy environment". OH YAH, I almost forgot, ICECREAM is an even BIGGER weakness than popcorn....it's simple, don't EVER, NEVER, EVER bring it home. If it's your FREE DAY, treat yourself out to all you want, don't bring it home "waiting for the next FREE DAY!" For me, it's FROZEN YOGURT time and the same applies, treat it like an icecream treat, and eat all you like when you're out, don't bring it home with you! That's it! Demi's words of wisdom here on T.com. I hope you're enjoying the empowerment that comes with making these decisions and really meaning it...really wanting to...making htme consciously and on purpose! I am a new person and I can't wait to infect you with my spirit when we meet! Love Always and many California Hugs from Demi

Environmental change made: I quit World of Warcraft after four years playing. As a gamer, through and through, that was tough. I left a lot of good friends there but I can see them elsewhere. My DH and DS still play, and I get these gentle nudges to come back but I know I can't. That game made me lazy though and, as another friend put it, "it eats your life." Environmental change coming: Get rid of popcorn after Freeday. I swear that stuff is half siren. I hear it singing every night, "Micky. Micky! Come on you KNOW you want this..." AAAAH! So today I am taking the popcorn and the butter and ...I can't throw this out. It's such a waste! How can you dump food you've paid good money for?! But if I give it to my parents I'm promoting bad health for them. So gosh I better keep it. NO! You see! Popcorn is insidiously manipulative. BEWARE THE POPCORN! I'm tossing it after I finish typing this.

Great. Well, I have nothing in the house but authorized food. I plan ahead before I go shopping. I have also begun to pick the store with the best prices so I can save money. Chicken breast 99 cents a pound. That's what I'm talking about. It's fun too. Also I make sure I have plenty of water in the house and with me when I go out. Refills at the reverse osmosis machine 30 cents/gallon. Vegetables are now mostly organic which I buy at the farmers market. This is something I look forward to every week. There are a lot of opportunities there for me to socialize. One of my goals is to get out of the house and meet new people. One of my big changes I am working on is becoming more social. Specifically opportunities to meet women. I been "fixed" up with women. Many of them who were nice but not my type. Leaving things in other people is at best; second best. Also at this point in my life I don't think I'll find the right woman in a bar atmosphere. Not that I couldn't find a woman there. But, that environment is not going to positively impact my life. So, I need to find new places where I could meet someone and have it be a positive environment. I need to research this more but so far coffee shops, yoga, spinning class, Whole Foods Grocery store, charity benefits, and outdoor activities would be a much more fun and positive environment for me. If any of you ladies could suggest places to meet women in an fun healthy environment. I would love to hear from you. The best of luck to everyone out there.

Environmental change that has supported my progress so far: 1.Started with getting my head on right. I had been considering, thinking about, wanting to 'want to', wishing to.... get myself back on track with better eating and more focused exercise for a year or two. But nothing was happening. I n reality, I was stuck in a rut, believing peri-menopause was to blame for my fattened up body and lack of drive I was experiencing. Eventually, my head shook clear of that mental debris and I could see potential and possibility with clarity. That shifted my whole demeanor which got me to visualizing, naming and planning. Read more... http://www.transformation.com/KBrooke/blog/The-Transformation/Assignment-7/26987 ~Brooke

Here's my Assignment #7 from 2/11/09: ASSIGNMENT #7 - OUR ENVIRONMENTS ... I was just re-reading some of my posts before I began doing Assignment #7. I noticed several times I had mentioned my addiction to chocolate and almost all kinds of sweets. I totally was addicted to the wrong carbohydrates. Just like other addictions, I'm sure that if I occasionally allowed myself to 'cheat' and have some of those little candy bars (or the full size ones that I often would buy in the grocery check-out line), that I'd be right back craving them and wanting one or more a day. In my prior posts I had mentioned that I have had NO cravings for chocolate and have been able to not succumb to the temptation. You see, I work in the Kids Ministry and so candy is a big part of my "work environment". Yesterday, I pulled my chair out to sit at my desk and glanced underneath and my eyes fell on a bag of mini-candy bars left over from last week's contest, and instantly I could actually taste the chocolate in my mouth. Well, I grabbed my keys and grabbed that bag and took off to the backside of the church where my "Kids Store" closet is and I quickly stashed the bag of chocolate candy bars in there and locked the door!!!! That changed that environment. It was surprising to me because that was the very first time in the 5 weeks I have completed that I did have that instant craving for a candy bar. And right after that I logged onto this site and saw Bill's assignment -- how timely! Another environment change: My refrigerator! Now I've been dieting for years so for the most part I don't have much junk in my frig. Also due to my allergy to milk, cheese, butter, sour cream, cream cheese, etc., I'm not bothered with those being in there because I haven't had them in a very long time. The environmental change is that now my frig always has good food choices. I don't wait until I'm out of the good food and have to rely on poor choices. I have to say my husband should get a reward for grocery shopping and cooking. He works 12-hr. shifts so he has 2 to 3 days off at a time and when he does he cooks delicious EFL meals and he always cooks extra so I will have left-overs for my lunch for a day or two. We always have about 3 cartons of eggs in our frig now. He's even buying whole wheat pasta for me now too. He doesn't even like regular pasta much less whole wheat, but he made the tuna casserole yesterday with whole wheat penne in it and he ate it. He's really trying to eat much better himself. I'm very blessed to have him!! Another environmental change for me is the gym!!! I actually love going to the gym and miss it on my free day or if it's an incredibly busy day like today and I do the treadmill at home. I can't believe that I have disliked exercise all my life, and now that I'm 57 I am actually loving it! The real environmental change is in my mind. I would never really let myself have a real dream or a goal for any length of time because I'd always convince myself that I'd fail or quit anyway so why even try. Now I have a clear picture of the ME I want to be, and I keep it before me at all times. When the going gets rough on the exercise bike or elliptical and for that instant the thought comes in to slack off or just quit for today, I get that mental picture of myself in my mind and I crank it up even more. I KNOW that I will not quit this Transformation. I am in it for the entire 18 weeks -- and then I will go right on from there. This is not a Program to me anymore. What began as a 18-week program to lose weight has become my new lifestyle and I do not want to ever "end" it. Another environmental change has been in reaching out to others every day to read about them, care about them, write them words of encouragement, and check back with them to see how their day is going. There's a couple of T-friends I feel quite close to because I've been through some of the situations they are dealing with, and I want to be there to help them. This had carried over into my everyday life. I have never been good at talking to people who are "terminal". I've never been good at hospital visits unless it's for a birth or a minor surgery. But I have an acquaintenance whose colon cancer has now returned for the third time and she is not going to get any more chemo. They've given her about 6 months to live. Now this would normally be a situation I would want to stay far away from because this is so totally out of my element. But after thinking about it for a couple of days, I picked up the phone and called her, not knowing what on earth to say to someone who is in this condition -- but the Lord was faithful. She was actually quite fun to talk with, she's very ready to go see Jesus face to face. We talked quite a bit about her cancer, quality of life, and her last days, her family's reaction to her decision, etc. I had dreaded making the call but when I got off the phone I actually felt like she had blessed me. It's amazing how that works when we step out of our comfort zone and do something for someone else - we always get blessed more than we blessed them. I know I have been making a lot of really good decisions for me -- and I'm also aware that I will definitely have bad days and bad times when I won't always make good decisions, but I really want to be the REAL ME and I know I have to continue making these choices until they become the NORM for me. I am really liking my new life. It's busier with working out 6 days a week, and with actually planning meals for a few days in advance, and I actually plan out my entire day the day before so I can make sure I have shakes or protein muffins with me for my mini meals. I also have protein shakes stashed everywhere - my desk drawer at work, my car, my gym bag, my frig, my hall closet. I don't want to not be prepared to have a mealthy meal available. I am into week 6 of becoming the New Me - 38 days! It feels good. I know I still have a long way to go but I'm certainly enjoying the journey. I also know it isn't just 18 weeks, that it truly is a lifestyle change, so Progress not Perfection is my motto. Thank you, Bill Phillips!! (Oh, I actually did change my Profile picture this week - I don't have the New Me After goal picture up there because someone in the chat room mentioned that I was skinny, and I didn't want people to think that was really what I looked like now. It's still in my Photos, but more than that, it is permanently ingrained in my mind. I also have that picture in my bathroom, in my office, in my daily T-Journal, even in my checkbook so I do get to see it a lot. So until I actually look like that, I'll put the Now Me pictures up)

I plan and shop for all my meals on the weekends. If I buy snacks for my husband (who is not on the program but probably should be), they are the things he likes that I don't (dark chocolate - yuck). Even with my planning, I have learned to be flexible. I know there may be days when I'm just too tired to cook or when I get invited out to dinner with friends. I have researched local restaurants and know what and how to order to stay within my EFL guidelines. I always ask that a "to go" box be delivered with my order. Half of my dinner goes into the box BEFORE I take my first bite. If I'm going to a restaurant I'm not familiar with, I look up their menu on-line beforehand so that I get to the restaurant knowing what I'll be ordering. I don't even look at the menu once I'm there so I'm not tempted to change my order because I'm hungry. At work, I no longer have a candy dish on my desk. There are others that do, but I convince myself daily that being out of control begins with the first bite, so I just don't take that bite. I keep my transformation notebook right at my fingertips to remind me that I have a direction and a plan for success and I pray every morning for God's strength to do that which I cannot do on my own.

Great I already had a head start on this one. My Assignment #7 1. I have quit smoking and don't want to be around it. 2. There is no junk food in the house now that I would like to eat. Infact my Family eats mostly the same meals as me now. 3. I watch Television shows which are Educational, Historical or based on real events. I do enjoy a good movie. 4.At work in my office I keep my Fridg stocked with healthy food and water only. 5. The Devil is not aloud to hand around with me. He is a trouble maker and I never liked him anyway.

Assignment Seven>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have started turning the TV on to TBN during the timew I spend on Transformation.....It has brought peace and more spiritual exposure...A Real Positive atmosphere compared to the old favorite...Court TV......>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I am anight shift worker...I have enjoyed the serenity of working out at the gym at 2:00 in the morning, but I think I should step up the difficult search for a workout partner.....I feel that I could have better gains with the assistence of a Spotter.

Hi Bill! The environmental changes I have made are #1-planning and cooking ahead so I never run out of authorized meals. #2-I have gone through my entire house and organized everything and thrown out so much that we don't need!! It feels great! Just doing that has given me peace and a feeling of control over my busy lifestyle! I am more focused on my workouts and able to concentrate better instead of worrying about what needs to be done at home!

Keeping junk out of the house is the key. If it's here, I'll find it eventually. The home environment is a lot cleaner than it used to be and it makes a difference. Changing your associations is important. I associated baked goodies with pleasure and enjoyment and to try to begin to break myself of craving them, I consider the damage that the fat and sugar in them is doing to me, not the least of which is preventing me from reaching my goals. I have almost gotten to the point where I consider them to be poison so that I will not be tempted to eat them anymore.

Plan, Plan Plan. I make my meal plan for the week on Saturday or Sunday for each and every meal for the week out of the EFL book. Then I do the grocery shopping and have *everything* i need. So when I come home, there is no stress of what's for dinner or just give up and go out for some unhealthy meal. That is the biggest environment change. As for a change that will further support my success, growing my support network, both online and with those around me would help.

Good afternoon! Changes I've already made are easy to list, and they've been crucial so far. There are no tobacco products in my home anymore, nor is there a bucket for cigarette butts on my back deck as there was for years. All junk food has been removed from my kitchen. The only drinks in my fridge are water bottles and skim milk. My gym bag is packed and ready to go. One of the changes I'm going to make today is to burn old Transformation Radio shows onto a CD so I can listen in the truck instead of only when next to the computer or mp3 player. Next, I'm going to figure out how to surround myself with more and more positive and uplifting people!

The changes that I have made to my environment have been crucial to my progress thus far. The two most important changes have been: 1) Like most people that have made progress, my wife and I have completely changed all food items in our house. There is nothing but healthy foods in our kitchen. To take it one step further we do not allow our 3 year old daughter to load up on sweets; all of her food is healthy as well. This change has made a world of difference, especially in those times when you would have eaten something that was not good for your body. 2) Planning and scheduling. I plan and schedule everything now. My food, my workout times and including the cardio and body part that I am going to focus on for the day. By planning I mean that I identify the activities that I am going to complete and the food items that I am going eat. Once I have planned then I will schedule the days and times for everything; I do this everyday. This environmental change has been just as effective as changing the food products in my kitchen. An environmental change that I can make today will directly help me execute my plan for the day. That is to consistently get all the things I need for the next day prepared the night before. I am talking about clothes for work, get my gym bag ready and prepare or buy any food that I am going to take to work. When I am not prepared, I can lose up to 45 minutes to an hour that I could have been at the gym, which completely throws off my schedule that I talked about above. The days that I am consistent with my preparation, then my plan and schedule is well executed; I will be consistent every day from this day forward.

Great lesson, Bill - I work from home out of my music studio. I have no excuse to keep junk food of any kind here since all my kids are adults, they don't live with me, and I am responsible for what I buy and eat. I love cooking vegetables, soups and ways to smoke or BBQ turkey, chicken and salmon so they are flavorful and yet healthy. I am happy that I have broken the need to treat myself with something that I will regret. Instead, I make a fire, brew tea and focus on living a quality life. 2nd, drinking more water. A full glass when I get up, a full glass when I go to bed, and 6 more during the day. Now to get more walks in, and more motion when I teach. I can sit for 6 hours a day teaching exhausting, but I haven't moved a lot. That has to change.

I’m asking you to now exercise your understanding of the power of “Wrong vs. Right” environments. Can you identify an “environmental change" which you’ve made so far which has helped you with your progress? *********************** The environmental change I've been able to make is to NOT keep the junk food in the house...doesn't mean there aren't tasty things to eat all around me, but those are things I've learned to make like the desserts out of the Eating for Life book. ************** And can you identify another environmental change which you can make today which will further support your success? Another environmental change I can make today is to NOT check my BlackBerry for work on my FREE day. The work stresses can often send me over the edge. I am progressing to the point where I realize I don't have to fix everything...and my FREE day needs to be just that...FREE...from an environment of work that often can be toxic.

An environmental change I have made is to stock my refrigerator at work with my mid-morning and mid afternoon planned snacks, planned lunch and water. In my desk I have the protein available to mix with water immediately after my exercise. I am prepared with the right food using "Eating for Life" as my guide. I am planning my meals one week in advance so I know what I am having the entire week. I have monitored my eating patterns and have discovered that Friday is my Free day. I have also had to make a very difficult decision to distance myself from a negative person who was more of a hindrance to my emotional health than a friend. Steering myself away from this negative person has made quite a difference in my transformation progress.

My environment before my challenge was simply put a mine field. I threw away the junk food. And have stalked the fridge with the following weeks food ingredients. I dont make entire meals and freeze them.. I like the taste of fresh so I make the meals fresh when im home. I keep it simple when Im out of the house. At work I bring enough cans of tuna and the same amount of apples. I keep a bottle of fat free mayo in the fridge. When I come home I make the dinner and top the night off with something simple but effective as well. I also keep enough water in the house now. Now what can I do today that will help my environment... I need to put up some motivational pics and quotes.. I havent done that yet. I will do that. Ron N

My biggest weakness at work is that lots of people keep snacks at their desks - M&Ms, candy bars, Jolly Ranchers, Animal Crackers, and Pretzels. This makes it so easy to snack on junk while your visiting someone's desk. What I've done to combat this is keep my own stash of Right Light or something similar in my desk. This way I'm never hungry around all these snacks and don't eat them. Today I could help my home environment by moving the main things that I eat away from the stuff the family eats. I want to eat healthy, but they have to come to terms with that on their own. Therefore I'll keep my healthy things out of the cabinets where their unhealthy food resides.

I've been pretty good about this in many ways, but here are a few changes: I always have Myoplex shakes at home and at work, so whenever I head to the gym to workout I grab one from either place for my post-workout recovery - this way I never forget. I started buying nuts, fruits, trail mixes as snacks (including a few with "sweets"), and now I rarely have any desire for candy, ice cream, baked goods, etc. - and it feels sooo much better to eat these! Two of my regular workouts are on Friday and Saturday evenings (unless I have a specific event planned with friends) - so if I want to watch a sports event or show, I do it there - and it keeps me out of bars, etc., where I would waste money, calories and brain cells. :)

I have really tried to maintain a level of organization that will make my transformation on the physical end a no brainer. I have everything in order in my cupboards and pantry, the fridge is stocked with the prepared foods I need each day, I have a gym bag packed and ready to go by the front door every night before I go to bed. I do not deprive my children of the foods they enjoy, so the junk food for the kids is on one particular shelf in the pantry and it stays there. I am trying to ease my oldest son into eating better so there are a more healthy variety of snacks, etc. for him to choose from. I am a big kid so I like to eat the food he does, so I need to avert my attention to other areas of that pantry. Everything in so far as food is in its place, or has been tossed out. Mission accomplished. This was the easy part. The mental part of my transformation has been the toughest for me. I have to be honest about this with myself. In order to make our transformations easier roads to travel, my wife and I have really tried to keep the house as clutter-free as possible. This is not an easy job with an 8-month old and a 5 and-a-half year old. I have always found myself to become more stressed from being surrounded by clutter. With feeping our home environment organized and clean, I find myself feeling more relaxed, aware, present, attentive, and much less claustrophobic. My wife and I have agreed that before doing anything for ourselves, we will make sure the house is put back together after the kids go to bed. It really has helped me with my mental clarity and I have been able to focus much better on other things I want to get done as well. And, the level of stress has decreased as well since my mood has such a strong influence on my home environment. I also apply this principle to my work environment. I keep a small stockpile of Right Light Shakes as well as bring in the food I pack for myself each day. The managers at the office at work keep a huge candy bowl filled with chocolate by their desks for us to pick at, but I walk right by it with no interest. I keep my work area clutter-free as well, and I am finding that I get a lot more accomplished now. It is helping! It is really exciting to see my transformation come into play in all aspects of my life! More to come… Geoff

One big change I've made in my environment is that in addition to only keeping healthy food in the house, I make sure I always make a list before entering the "grocery store" environment. Even when I shop in a healthier grocery store, I only get what is on my list, to remove any temptations. Another change that I worked on today, and will continue to work on is de-cluttering the house.Sorting to keep/donate or dispose of will give our home a "fresher" feeling!

I have completely changed my environment. This transformation has been SO good for me, my body, my mind, my wallet, my kids & my husband. I shop STRICTLY by a grocery list which consists ONLY of ingredients that I need to make my pre-planned meals. I write out my meal plan on Sunday and shop on Monday night. I do NOT allow myself to just grab things anymore. I do keep some snacks in the house for my son that I won't eat, but they do not tempt me. They are healthy anyway, but not for me-graham crackers, rice cakes, etc. I maintain a calendar for a moms group and I now start things at 10 rather than 9:30 so I can get to the gym with my boys beforehand. The day care does not open until 8:30. I plan my day/night around the gym. I am saving so much money by spending more time at home cooking, at the gym or outside running and more time planning-less time to eat out or shop! Thank you Bill, I'm loving my life!

Bill has given us so many practical ways to “clean up the environment.” So have many Transformers themselves. It’s so important not to have our food triggers so accessible. A friend told me that once he got so angry at himself for his smoking and eating habits while he was driving cross country that he rolled down the car window and threw out all his junk food and cigarettes. Then about 30 miles later he turned right around and drove back to pick it all up! I haven’t done that, but I used to beg my husband to lock up the Halloween candy in the freezer and take the key to work with him the day after Halloween. It was humiliating when your kids are crying after they come home from school and can’t find any of their “good” candy because their Mom has eaten it all! So I‘ve been working on a supportive food environment for a while. Altering the emotional environment is trickier for me. It’s not like you can bring an “emotional” snack or meal with you when you go out. A problem for me has been that while I have been “removing” myself from negative groups, places, and organizations over the years I had reached a kind of isolation. I cleared out the space without putting any new, good, life-affirming stuff in! I am kind of a hermit anyway, and live on a quiet, country acreage in a rural community. The nature part is good, but there are few community resources available. So finding the “Transformation Planet” has really helped me. There is a palpable feeling, a specific atmosphere, and a discernable energy that is what I have needed. (Hope it’s not a new craving!) I t hurts me to say that among my family members there are a few individuals whose energy (as Bill said last night on the radio show) “weakens” me. I either cannot or will not eliminate them from my interaction. I juggle the pros and cons of my exposure to that strong negative energy and just don’t know how to work this one out yet. I recently turned a daughter's bedroom into an office for my computer and to be a place to see a small number of private clients. It is a great space and other people must feel that because thet keep coming in and hanging. out. Now the past 2 days I have gotten REALLY IRRITATED by the rest of my house, storage areas,car interiors, etc. Just after writing this assignment I realize that I am about to re-organize and re-shape my environment to suit and support this "better me" that is emerging. The outside has to change when the inside does! Yes!

#1- I don't go to the grocery store anymore which has totally eliminated the temptation of buying things off the shelf. I make our list at home and shop online for only what we need throughout the week. Not only does it keep unauthorized foods out of the house, it has saved us hundreds of dollars in the past 9 weeks. #2- I listen to Christian radio, T.com radio or classical music on Itunes during the day. It's helped my mood immensely. Great way to block out the tv that is always on in the next room (for mom) while I'm working. Head phones work pretty well, but am looking forward to putting a door on this room so I can block out all distractions and focus!! The thing I need to work on most is keeping on top of house cleaning and going through all of the boxes from the storage unit. We're doing pretty well with the kitchen, and the rest of the house that people see when they come in. But our bedroom/bathroom still need work. Once I conquer that task and stay on top of it daily I will reap the rewards that I set out in my original goals. Time management is a priority and I signed up for a refresher course with Franklin Covey at the end of this month to help with goal setting and making lists. I took the class years ago and remembered how much it helped while I was working in corporate America. I stopped using the system when I started my home business, but am realizing I need it now more than ever.

I create the right environment each week by doing my grocery shopping each Sunday. Then I do my cooking each night for the following day. In doing so, my day is already planned out and all I need to do is follow through. I have always followed Chris Winter's advice and I eat the most nutritionally dense food I can find as often as possible. I have been utilizing trader joes, whole foods, and most importantly the local farmers market for local grown produce.

I live with my sister and fortunately she is on the same page with the transformation. We have been able to keep our cupboards clear of the temptations. My nephew has his treats but I have been able to stay away and they are minimal. I am concerned about my current emotional environment at work. Can I be the change and create a better environment or should I change my environment and seek a more positive environment with people who are working with the same purpose and goals as I am.

Enviromental changes we've made so far. Cleaned out the bedroom and made up enough room to setup the treadmill. Unboxed, assembled and setup the treadmill. Using the treadmill. :) Finished the kitchen remodel enough to enable us to prepare our EFL meals. This elimanates the temptation of grabbing fast food on the way home. Disposed of unauthorized foods that were in the house. For free day we just get what we are going to eat and nothing more. Bought a gym membership and (here is the hard part) using the gym membership.

I have cleaned out my home from unhealthy foods. I have precooked meals in the freezer and lots of MRP shakes and good protein in the cupboards I have my gym bag ready in the car. I do not watch TV. I call and talk to friends or spend time with my children instead. What I could do: Keep my kitchen clean and uncluttered. No bread or diet coke in the house. Repaint my bedroom and buy a new bed. Put up my self made painting/art of my # 1 assignment with photos and my goals and reasons for transforming to look at everyday. An organized and clean beautiful home gives me energy, a cluttered home takes my energy. Try to find a workout friend. I feel lonely without my sister. (she´s pregnant) Visit and get connected more with people on T.com for support. ~ Helene

Being prepared each week with food has been the best thing that's ever happened to me! All of the shopping and cooking are done on Sunday, all of my meals are planned out ahead of time, etc. This has been something that definitely sets me up for success each week. Even while going on vacation I was able to stay on track because of planning my meals and workouts ahead of time. Free day food is only purchased as enough for that day and any leftovers get tossed out. Also having a gym membership and a couple of workout buddies is a BIG help! Some days I go to the gym twice because I go with Angela in the early morning and then with Audra later in the day. My yellow lab Nash should count as one of my workout buddies too because when the weather's nice he gets me outside for walks in the sunshine :) Really this is the first time in my life that I feel in control - and creating a healthy environment is surely the reason. Now life doesn't just happen TO ME - I decide what's going to happen in my life each day. I can't say, "I had to run through the drive-thru because there was nothing to eat at home" or "I didn't have time to workout today" - because I MAKE time. And if I don't eat right or get my workout done - then I know that it was a poor choice because there was really no excuse for it. I control what happens to me - good or bad. And I choose for good things to happen. I choose to make healthy choices and enjoy my life.

Keeping only healthy food became relatively easy once i realized these facts: the toll on your physical and emotional health (self esteem, even how self sufficient and independ you are in your life). And how expensive it really becomes over time when you eat the foods you shouldn't (think about medical bills, bigger clothes, more prescriptions). Not to mention how this drags relatives, friends and damages your relationships. I have quit TV, and have started doing more things with my time, like exercising, playing with my kids, reading, catching up on housework, talking to friends and relatives. It is so much more fulfilling!

Everyone talks about removing temptation from their kitchen or fridge, and I agree but I have done that for the past several years and STILL FAILED. I look back now and realize all of my past "diet" failures or inability to "stay the course" of eating healthy and exercising was due to some major inner garbage that needed addressing. Namely, self-rejection. So for me, nothing has changed in my kitchen. The cabinets still have healthy foods...I just don't hit Wendy's drive thru after a bad day or ask my husband to bring home Edy's Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream because I am feeling "depressed" or want to stamp out the feelings inside that I kept trying to hold at bay. this whole process of transformation has so addressed my inner, that my addictions are slowing being snuffed out. I can actually be having a rough day and not have a physical pull inside to run to the store and grab a whole bunch of binge foods. It is TRULY AMAZING that I can throw a party at our home (or attend one at someones house) and not feel full of anxiety over the food that will be served. My son's 3rd birthday was this past weekend and I once again had very little trouble with serving birthday cake and snacks to my guests (it used to make me angry to not be able to indulge or it would make me feel like a failure if i caved in to the temptation). My inner healing is the only thing that has changed and is the only thing I can attribute to my success these past 7 weeks. I entered the BFL challenge 5 TIMES over the past few years and never made it past week 5!!!!!!!!!!! Again, eating the same, working out the same, but this challenge addresses the inner which in turn, is reshaping my outer with little difficulty. I actually think I am starting to melt! That week 8 melt I read about does exist!! More importantly, I do wholeheartedly agree that environment is KEY. I keep myself logged in as much as possible to t.com in order to feel support and give support. Again, another thing I did not have with BFL, that I KNOW is KEY to my still being on the path to freedom and true success. Staying focused on inner healing is one of the best ways for me to keep this process going. I used to read stories of past weight loss successes that completely went back to being overweight and back to their old habits after reaching incredible goals and it frightened me that I would do the same. Now I have no concern about that because I realize that they most likely worked more on their "outer" transformation and less on their "inner" hence, the regression to old habits. Danelle :)

Assignment 7 has really got me going… it sounds easy and in some ways it is, but this one seems to have identified a nagging pain that I didn’t realize was even there. On the more simple side, I have made changes in my environment while visiting customer or having lunch and dinner appointments. This was easier than I thought. I have spent years convincing myself that I had to eat at certain places and then I wouldn’t watch what I put into my body. That has all changed in the past 7 weeks. I try to schedule meetings so that I can eat my prepared foods that I bring with me and if I do go to a restaurant, I have noticed that 1) I can find the right choices there and 2) I can always ask for some modifications – and I have never been turned down yet. The more difficult change (the one that is nagging me) has to do with my living and working space. I work out of the home and – like everyone else – I have too much to do and too little time to do it. My office has become a crazy mess of paperwork, computers, electronics, customer samples, bills, etc. etc. you name it. Anyway… I realized that this was really causing anxiety and a lack of peace in my work environment. I made a decision to go through and clean things out… which turned into me realizing that I was somewhat of a packrat and have many things surrounding me that I don’t need or use. (I am really emphasizing being mindful of these things as I study eastern philosophies and apply these teachings to my life). Anyway, this little project has turned into re-arranging my son’s room, our loft/play area and the office… I am not done yet but have completely re-arranged the furniture, and am making great progress to create a peaceful place that I can work and can spend some quiet time to myself reading, meditating or just sitting quietly… I can’t wait to finish what I started

I removed all the binge food from my apartment. If I really want something on my free day, I will go out and get just one serving of it and will not bring any of it home. I have admitted to myself that I am powerless over certain foods. The other change is that I am keeping my kitchen uncluttered and clean all the time. I found that a neat, clean environment helps me eat slower and with more awareness. The next thing I can do is have all my workout clothes for the week organized for each day of the week. Beth

I did a complete office sweep and eliminated all of the unhealthy food that I could find. We also swept our home and eliminated all alcohol and unhealthy snack foods. I have also altered my walking routes at work in order to avoid those ubiquitious bowls of candy that used to seem to beckon me.

I cleared a spot in the barn for early morning workouts, and I asked family members to help me keep it available (i.e., not silt it up with non-related things). So, now every morning that I do weights, I have a place to go with all of the tools available to me: Bowflex, resistance bands, free weights, and yoga mat. This way, there's far less chance of me skipping a workout because it's inconvenient. To change: I return to work in a few weeks, and the environment there is *less* than ideal. I'm going to have to make sure there are nutritious food choices there at all times. Seriously, I need to give lots of thought to this.Usually, I take a break by walking with co-workers to a local coffee shop. Can I convince them to just walk, instead?

One enviromental change I have made is going to the rents(parents) house, once a week on my free day. there is usually food at all times or the pops is bar-b- queing. So that has stopped . The other change is what we are now doing, we are slowly changeing what the kiddos eat, we want them to eat healthy too, of course. they are picky but they too are adjusting. I usually eat my 5 meals a day, so I find myself not craving junk food.

Even before transformation I have tried to create a positive environment around me wherever I go, but especially at home (since that's where I am most of the time with my four kids). I know that for my spiritual health it is very important to keep any negative, degrading, immoral, harmful things out of our home. So, for me it means I monitor the music, tv shows, books and magazines, video games, movies, etc that we watch, listen to, look at, etc. If it is not uplifting, it has no place here. Of course I am FAR FROM perfect at this, but I know how it makes me feel to for example watch hours of reality TV that makes me feel dumber for having watched it. Or what am I teaching my girls when I listen to some "harmless" RnB song on the radio with my girls in the car, but it talks about getting drunk and high, cheating on your girlfriend and shooting somebody. Now that my husband is on board, it is easier to control what kind of foods we have in the house too, because we are both on a health trip now. Even though, junk food in the house has not been a huge temptation for me so far, it does make me feel even better, that now even in weak moments I'd have to go thru the hassle of dragging four kids to the drive thru if I wanted some junk food. I have also started talking to my kids a lot about healthy food choices and moving our bodies. They are constantly with me and part of my "environment", so i love it that they are starting to comment their own and my food choices (" oh, mommy, good job, carrots are very good for your eyes" or " I am putting water in my juice because juice has a lot of sugar and i don't want holes in my teeth"). I've also been more on top of my chores lately and become more organized, as this helps me to stay focused and on track (inside chaos is reflected in outside chaos and vice versa). In my mother language, German, we have this saying : Wer sich in Gefahr begiebt, der kommt darin um. Translated it means about: If you get yourself into danger purposely, it will kill you. I know my weaknesses and I see the wisdom in creating favorable circumstances for what I want to achieve, rather than hoping I'll be strong enough to resist in a tempting environment. Juliane

My kitchen is going through a transformation. It is devoid of mostly of Junk food. I have stocked the kitchen with fruits, fruit bars, and fruit popsicles for those days when I am craving something sweet. I have gotten rid of ALL chip and crackers. If it is somethig tempting, I do not buy it. Buy doing this it has helped me to identify when I am really hungry, and not bored. Used to be if I was "hungry" I would go to the cupboard and grab some pringles or doritoes cookies, etc. Now when I am "hungry" and I open the cupboard I find dried fruit. If I am actually hungry, then I will want to eat that, if not I close the cupboard and move on. This is a HUGE change for me. Something I need to work on though is "treats" bought for me buy my roommates and friends. I need to say thank you and not eat them. If they are their, I cave. In part because I do not want to seem ungrateful and in part, because I really like sweets.

Most noticeably would be the changes made in our kitchen in terms of the food that we stock (and then eat of course), which obviously starts in the grocery store. Before even stocking the shelves in the house, we make sure that we fill the cart with the appropriate foods so as not to even have the temptation in the house. For off days we either get what we want from the store that day, or dine out. I think another important part in this is making the right choices in the people that you surround yourself with. I can think of a few people or friends (perhaps more of an acquaintance now) that have been in my life at one point in time and may still be lingering, but perhaps don’t have the same goals, aspirations, drive, morals, etc. That can be contagious, and I don’t want regression in my life, so I think for me it’s making the choice not to surround myself with said people and the negativity that they may bring to my life. The last thing that I can think of right now is trying to help loved ones around me that have a poor attitude, poor perception of self worth, and lack of drive to make changes. It seems as though there is no shortage of friends and family that have the “I can’t” attitude right now, or the “poor me” syndrome. I have been focusing a TON of my time and energy in trying to turn their thoughts / comments into positive ones. I think to some degree it has been working, and I realize that it isn’t my responsibility to fix these people, but it doesn’t help my cause when some of the people around me are in doom and gloom mode. I suppose part of this stems from what I’ve been experiencing thus far in my Transformation, and I want for those around me to experience it as well, but I also want them to understand that they too can overcome the hurdles in their lives and reach their true potential. If I can help get them there, or at least help them realize that the power to change lies within them, then I’ve made an impression AND have surrounded myself with others that possess the positivity to which this Transformation affords

My kitchen environment has changed from random unhealthy foods to a selection of fruits, vegetables, protein and complex carbs. I have one cabinet which contains my shakes, protein, vitamins and blender. Its all there for when I need it. I also keep the efl book out on the counter to have handy for planning meals or to make a "special" shake. We are all products of our envirenments and we can all change them for the better.

In my first 18 weeks the environment I focused on was the one in my kitchen, concerning foods and the fact we started becoming more involved with people who were into exercising and being more active. This second 18 weeks, my environment to me has come to include my spiritual environment....those things I choose to use to enlighten my spiritual inner being in becoming a happier more inspirational and giving person through meditation and prayer. My mental environment...the environment that exists between my ears... that mental process of choosing right or wrong, good or bad and dealing with the consequences or rewards for those selections in my daily life. My physical environment...things I choose to put into my body like healthy foods and the exercises and activities I participate in with others to guide me on my way to a healthier me. Other aspects of my environment are the activities I choose to go to, for instance, Vegas was a two to three time trip every year and now it has been several trips to meetings with other transformation members. No gamble there, lol. Troy

This was a tough one for me because my wife and son are such a positive influence and create a positive environment for change. The biggest change has been the types of foods I eat. I used to ask my wife to bake me a cherry pie (yum!) and I would eat half of it in a week. But my wife is thin and healthy and doesn't have the same eat and lie around watching TV habits that I've had. So she loved me and would bake me a pie, all the while knowing that if I wanted to change, it would have to be because I wanted to and not because she nagged me. That freedom of choice allowed me to not be in bondage to food. I finally arrived at a mindset that my family loves me and wants me here for them and so if I want to be around for the grandkids for years to come (I don't have them yet) then only I can do something about it. Well. I don't even think about pie because I haven't asked my wife to bake it. She supports me and has always cooked out of the EFL cookbook anyway. We love the recipes and knowing that we eat healthy goes a long way toward my success. Thank you Robin! I love you honey! (thats my wife). ;)

I only keep healthy foods in my home. The exception to this is free day, but if there's anything here at the end of free day it gets scrapped. I also keep a supply of protein shakes so that if I forget to take something out for a meal, I can always make a shake. I keep my weights, bands, leg weights in my living room visible to me at all times so that even if I try to put exercise out of my mind on days when I feel unmotivated or lazy they are a constant reminder. I keep a vision board of my goals up in my room so that I can see it every day upon waking and every night before I go to bed. I keep a list of my goals on the wall right next to my bed so it's the first thing that I see. I also keep that same list in my kitchen. On my fridge I put up a photo of me at my lowest weight (as an adult), a picture of Bill Phillips, a list of healthy foods, and a weight chart. My gratitude journal is always next to where I sit to watch TV so that I can use TV time to be somewhat productive and use it to take the time to be grateful. I am well stocked in self help books and keep one next to the tub so that I can read every day while I'm in the bath. I keep food and exercise log in my living room. I have a binder full of my assignments and emails or messages that people have sent me that inspire me.

1. I have stopped buying chips and sweets for my family as I used to; we have far fewer tempting foods, and I have replaced them with fruits ON THE COUNTER-it is amazing how my family grabs the first thing they see as they walk into the kitchen, which is now fruit. When it was in the fridge, it didn't get touched..... 2. I can stop buying non-diet soda; that will be the next step.

Bill - this was a GREAT assignment. I just posted many, many thoughts on my blog with this...but here's the summary. The positive environmental change I’ve made so far on my journey is to clean out the kitchen and pantry of high-risk foods that may trigger or tempt me on a tough day (carby, sugary snacks). I hide my husband’s sweets in an out-of-the-way spot and also ensure they are things that don’t tempt me much. The change I need to make is to release the resentment and stress in my work environment to free up energy for my transformation journey! I know I need to continue to focus on the mental and physical purifications of my environments. The realization here is that some are external and some are internal purifications to make.

I'm to the point of this Transformation to where I am totally focused. It doesn't matter what junk food you place in front of me, I will not touch it. On my office desk, I have a bowl of Hershey's Kisses for our clients, which I smell all day long, but my mind is totally focused on this Transformation...I no longer desire sweets. Like my wife says, I'm allergic to sweets, especially ice cream, because I always breakout in FAT! I would never break a promise to anyone, especially God our Father, so when I started this Transformation, I promised Him I would go 30 days without eating ice cream...Guess What??? It worked and I no longer crave ice cream. Now that the 30 days has passed, I may have a "small" cup of ice cream on my junk food day, but like I said, I no longer crave it. The most important "environmental change" I'm making during this 18 week Transformation is not eating out in restaurants or drive thru fast food places. My 5 to 6 meals per day are prepared from home and carried with me in a cooler. If I'm with my wife, family or friends and they want to eat out at a restaurant, I'll eat a meal out of my cooler just before we go into the restaurant. I'm totally satisfied when I walk into the restaurant and I order only a drink and visit with them while they eat. Like I said...I'm Totally Focused...and I've got Bill Phillips, The Transformation Staff , All You Challengers and Our Lord Jesus Christ to "Thank" for helping me thru this Tansformation...God Bless You All! Mark

I have changed my radio station to a Christian station. I find that this change helps me to stay focused on my goal, it also eliminates negativity. The songs are uplifting, and when they talk inbetween songs it's informative. I will watch less TV, and when I do watch it, I'll monitor what I'm allowing in my house. Besides all of the negativity that is on TV, I don't want my daughter growing up in front of it.

OK so i went to the library & picked up a little book organize your home! So I making other things in the house practial, so i can focus on the things that are truly important. And the kitchen is on its way to becoming healthier everyday!

I surround myself with positive people. I don't keep unhealthy food in my kitchen, I don't have friends who pressure me to eat unhealthy or drink alchol and I bring my own food to work!

Another Enviormental change.......before leaving the House, I keep well fed, and usually take Right Light with me for a quick meal!

One enviornmental change I have made, is to work on increasing my personal relationships, with.... My Lord and savior Jesus Christ~through Memorization and prayer over Bible verses... Through 1st Corinthians 13~what love is fleshed out to my wife and children..... supporting and Honoring others in my home church, by being friendly, inviting others out to lunch after church, and taking a genuine interest in their lives! As far as food is concerned, I enjoy having a couple of glasses of Red wine for lunch or dinner. So far, the bottle only comes out of the refrig twice a week, so I havent had too much problem in this.. I do have to keep chocolate OUT of the house...when I pass one while shopping, I just tell myself, you dont need that.......and move on!

My waekness was mountain dew I removed that from my house, diet and avoid it at resturants now. I drink more water than ever before and the junk food is gone from the house,

My environment changes are simple. I threw away all the junk food and I do the grocery shopping, buying only nutritious foods. My wife has a tendency to buy junk food, I eat 6 small meals every two and half hours to avoid being hungry, so i do not binge on food. I plan my meals ahead and prep cook ahead on Sunday.

I have changed what I listened to, to only choose the music, movies, and words that will inspire me, help me learn and grow. I will continue to keep my home in order and improve it to also inspire me and help me stay on the growing path

My environmental change I have made to help with my progress has been preparing ahead with our food intake and also our exercise routine. I do not go shopping without a shopping list of meals I have decided to prepare. And I do not go to bed without knowing which exercise routine I will be working on in the morning. MINDSET is what it's all about! Another environmental change that I can set today that will further my progress in the future is having a positive attitude, when I look in the mirror and don't see the immediate changes, find something positive instead of the negative even if it's just to say my hair looks good today!!!

When I’m grocery shopping I only buy healthy foods. I no longer buy tempting foods such as cookies, candy, chips…or any other unhealthy snack foods. On my free day these foods are okay but I only get enough to last on that day. If any of the fun food is left over it either goes in the garbage or I stash it away in the pantry for the next free day—out of sight, out of mind. Brian

I am the father of two young men ages 17 and 20. One can appreciate the amount of food two muscular and energetic athletes can consume in just one day and not gain a single ounce. That's my boys! I knew when I began my transformation it would be hard sticking to my meal plan while watching these guys eat anything and everything. The day I made the commitment to do this challenge I decided not to ask others around me to make sacrifices on my behalf, this included my wife as well. I knew that to overcome my weakness for junk food I would need to practice self discipline in order to grow during my transformation. Besides, temptation is all around us, and it will always be there, that's a lifetime guarantee. As it has turned out my addiction to junk food was easier to lick than I assumed. Within my first two weeks of my transformation I no longer had a desire to snack between meals. I credit this to moving my meal intake from three huge meals and snacks in between to the six small meals of quality food and lots of water. Once my body was flushed of all toxic crap the cravings just went away. Instead of constantly thinking of food I had to remind myself it was time to eat. What a great feeling of empowerment! Now I get a kick out of facing down temptation and kicking it's butt! Yes, I still have moments when I look at that extra cheese pizza and think "boy could I tear into that" but I try and remember how I used to feel once I had consumed the entire pie. My favorite saying was "why did I eat that"? With my new plan in effect I always have my free day I can lean on, and this has really helped, although I rarely use it. As I move through my challenge I have found that my will power is becoming stronger and stronger. The harder I work the more it grows. I am also setting a positive example to my wife and boys. They are starting to see how determined I am to change my habits. My wife now joins me and shares in my nightly Right lite shake instead of eating junk! I came home the other evening to the sounds of my blender running and my boys mixing up one of my Hi-Protein Shakes before their workout. My pantry still remains home to cereal, chips and cookies, but I have noticed a slight decline in the amount that makes it's way home from the grocery store, and that's a positive thing. My example of energy and will power is starting to rub off on the one's I love most, and hopefully this will end up making it easier on all of us in the long run. My closet has become the new pantry for my food and is a great place to find a healthy snack when I need one.

My "environmental changes" are: 1) I have taken this transformation challenge. 2) I have a mission/purpose and planned goals with deadlines. 3) I've cleared out the kitchen and cupboards, so that only "authorized foods" are allowed. 4) I plan my weekly meals and exercise. 5) I visualize and think of success and progress. 6) I take responsibility for my feelings and actions and try to understand why I have them and then take appropriate action. 7) I am very selective in what I spend my time doing and who I choose to spend my time with. 8) I spend time with the Lord and in the scriptures everyday. Another "environmental change" which I can make is: 1) Keep things picked up around the house and clean up after myself. 2) Practice more patience with my children. 3) Give more thanks to God and show more gratitude.

Environmental changes that I have made are eliminating Coke from my diet completely. Drinking soda does not lead me to eat salads & chicken. I need to work on planning for free day rather than just letting myself give into it and events that might be happening around me.

One of the hardest things to clean out of my diet has been soda, But I haven't been buying it, so I don't drink it. Now thats its gone I don't remember it. Soda, Soda who? I don't know any soda, you must have me confused with the old me.

At home creating a positive environment for change has been fairly easy for me in the past, by not allowing foods that do not fit with the "plan" into the house. The place that I have struggled before was at work. I work as a firefighter and fortunately I have already been functioning in the role of cook on my shift. When I began the transformation process I decided that there was going to be no compromise for me even at work. I decided that since I was cooking the meals, and usually shopped for them, as well, that we were going to start eating clean. I have recieved "buy in" from most of my co-workers, with a few grumblings here and there from others. Since the change in "menu" at the station, many have raved about the meals, since clean eating does not necessarily mean bland tasteless food. Another change that I have made is that on occasion citizens that we have been called to help will bring cakes, cookies, or some other baked good by the station to show thier gratitude. I have been taking these baked goods and moving them to a place where they are out of my sight, usually in another shift's refrigerator or food locker. I do let my crew know where these treats are in case the want to partake, but at least they sitting in front of me tempting me all day.

I don't really have a problem with keeping junk in my house, it's at work is the problem. So, I ALWAYS have food at work that is clean food, that way, if I do forget to pack enough meals for the day, I always have backup at work and I don't have an excuse to go grab something at McD's or whatever. I also pack a serving of protein powder in little plastic containers and leave them at work so I don't have to pack them back and forth everyday.

The change that has made the biggest impact in this challenge has been mental. Mentally feeing my mind of negative thoughts about myself has freed up so much energy.

A New, Positive Environment My refrigerator at home and at the office are stocked with healthy meals. My gym locker and gym bag are packed and ready to go with everything I need to get my workouts completed and start my day. My husband is committed to eating transformation-style, and is supporting me by being an expert shake-mixer! Most importantly, my mind is working to stay congruent and aligned with my loving heart, noticing God in everyone and everything, challenging every negative thought and transmuting it to a True thought, which is always a good thought.

My planning and my organizational skills are improving which are definitely impacting on my environment. I know exactly what I want to accomplish each day in terms of workouts and meals, as well as household duties. I have scheduled time for things I want to get done and also for time for myself. I like living in an organized home; I find it boosts my energy and the energy just flows better in general--- so that is an environmental thing that I am working on---messy cupboards, closets and drawers beware!

1) The "environmental change" which Ive made so far which has helped me with my progress:' Have lots of healthy foods in the frig and cupboards; bring foods to work that I can eat on-the-go; don't have any beer or vodka in the house; my exercise equipment is set up in an aread that works well for me; have the exercise routine ready to go ahead of time. 2) Identify another environmental change which you can make today which will further support your success. *Make a check list to keep track of the water I'd like to be drinking every day.

I have made two changes in my life that stick out more for me. First, I have ben extremely dilligent at cleaning up after myself. I believe the old Jem who did not care about his environment to allow a pair of shoes to sit in the living room for days or a coat or sweatshirt to drape over a chair did not have the self esteem to decide he is worth having nice things. I even return all of my personal weights to their place before I call my workout complete I am making sure my environment matches how I am feelign inside. Second, I have created a fitness area that is impossible to ignore. I tried to ignore the area a few weeks ago when I was sick and I ended up pushing out a routine inspite of my illness. The weights are sitting there waiting for me. Infact, I think they are calling me to get inthere and do what has to be done. Even my favorite Cardio DVD sits prominantly in front of the others. I always have something reminding me of the exercise I need to do or of the effort I have made that I can easily waste if I decide to ignore the nutrition piece. My spirituatl strength is growing into a person geared more towards healthy habits daily.

The best environmental change I have made over the past 7 weeks has been to make sure that I do not leave the house in the morning without packing healthy foods, even if it’s pretty basic stuff. I have been able to stay on track on days that I know I would’ve gone for convenience food otherwise, just because I had a backup plan. The environmental change I will make today is to begin ensuring that I will plan the week’s home meals (usually M5 and M6) with my wife, and I will help her to prepare them when work allows.

I have made it a routine, to pack a lunch every day, even when I know I will be returning home to eat, because I sometimes have to work through lunch. When this happens, the crew usually just orders some fast food to get by, and that is not along the ways of my future vision. What I can do today is to organize my thoughts into an actual journal, instead of just writing thoughts on a post it note, because I end up tossing out the post it note. I would like to have a map of where I have been, and what I have done to get to where I am.

"Identify an environmental change that you've made to help with your progress"--I cleaned out the garage. Dh bought me a recumbant bike and made it a place I like to go to workout. "Identify anther environmental change you can make today to further support your success?"De-clutter the kitchen.

I have started cooking turkeys and other meats to take to work with me. I cook it on a wood fire, de-bone it and bag it. 4 oz. with green beans is quite tasty and keeps me away from the donuts and stuff thats always available.

This is my #1 more important key for day-to-day living. You can't eat what's not there.

I did something a few minutes ago that will definitely change my environment for the better at work. I copied one of Chris Winter's after pics and one of the before pics on Word and printed it out. I made it nice and small but not too small that I will not notice it and I am going to take it to work and post it somewhere near my computer screen. I work out at lunch time so having this in eyes view before and after my workout will motivate me big time!

I started cooking the dinner meals so I could have control of what we were eating at home, My Wife really liked that! I also made shure my fridge at work only has good clean foods. A change to make today is start to talk to others, kindly, about their eating habits, and make suggestions how they might change.

For me, having the stuf in the house is not as bad as not having an alternative. Cooking from the EFL cookbook has been great for me. When I used to get home and my wife would be cooking, I would stnad in the kitchen and snack on anything and everything I could find. We would laugh about it. It was BAD. Now, I have found I love to cook. But I think it is because it gives me something to do, and if I snack while I do it, it is a carrot, a yellow pepper, or some kind of veggie. The fact that I get to eat about every 2 hours is great. I am hardly hungry. I eat a lot of protien bars and shakes. Also, to make things easier for dinners, I grilled about 10 lbs of chicken on the grill and put it in the fridge, so making meals is becoming a sinch. Almost everything I make has chicken. Tonight I did grab some gum to give myself something to chew on. I do find myself chewing more gum. It helps too.

My environmental changes -- limiting snack food that triggers wrong portions...such as flavored rice cakes or WW ice cream sandwiches. I have further organized my papers and office at home. I plan, and shop and cook quite a bit ahead. I avoid food drenched situations at work, whenever possible. Thanks for the reminder that it is best to plan ahead and avoid temptation to eat junk.

One of the things I have done is to stop drinking sodas and drink water or protein shakes. My mental environment is getting a good cleaning out also. Thank you for showing me how to save my life, Mona

Today I cleaned out all of the cabnets in the kitchen of all the junk food. I never relized how bad we were really eating until I did this. I box everything up and I will be removing it today. For I know to have anything in the house that we should not eat is just asking for trouble. To me creating the right environment means setting yourself up to suceed for a long and healthy life style.

I like the quote “We create our environments and then our environments create us” My environments are often cluttered and chaotic. My life often feels cluttered and chaotic. In effort to focus on the progress I’m making here are some things I’ve been working on already to change my environment into one that is more conducive to my transformation: At work I have been trying to keep my desk clean and organized so that I am better able to get my work done, and stay focused. Able to work on a task, and efficiently move to another. I’m still working on making this practice a normal thing. At home I am working to keep my environment more tidy, and less chaotic. I’ve been cleaning out some things, re-organizing, hauling some stuff off to the Good will… And trying to eliminate some of the things in my environment that cause me stress and anxiety. I am working with my dogs more and they are becoming more calm and obedient members of the household, and that is helping reduce stressfulness as well. Over the last 6 weeks I have been able to ignore “Free day” type foods that are in the house. (I think I actually have ice cream in the freezer that is not good any more, because it’s been in there so long!) I really don’t find myself having to eat and splurge on things like that. I’m excited to be eating healthier. The EFL foods are stinking delicious, and I feel satisfied with being more healthy. I Think it’s sad that I was, and so many people are leaving themselves “Free” to eat whatever they want, or feel they deserve all of the time… without realizing how much freedom is really being taken away from them by living that way. I hope that I can inspire people to realize that eating healthy most of the time is what is good for you. What we are supposed to do. I picture in my imagination a healthy family structure of eating nutritious home cooked meals daily, and occasionally (once a week, or less often) getting to splurge on something fun like a pizza or a burger or something.. We are a people who like food… and find comfort in it… And have created lives where we feel deserving of over-indulgences. And it is so freeing to be eating healthy, and enjoying the benefits of more energy, more time on our hands, etc. One thing I know that was a change to my routine, and even environment is cooking ahead of time and being prepared for eating. Planning ahead and being prepared certainly helps create an environment where I’m better able to follow through with this transformation. I’m working on making time for myself. Whether that is spending an evening focused at home trying to get some things around the house done. Or spending the time with the dogs. Or making time to read, or relax. Making time for relationships, for friends, for family…. I’m working on creating a home environment where there is a balance of things getting accomplished and remaining orderly, where I’m also getting enough relaxing and recuperating and recreational time. I’m so thankful for this transformation process. It feels good to be moving in a forward direction.

Thru trial and error I have created the environment for my free day. I have a free meal out at a restaurant. I enjoy the food and the company I am with. Then I walk away. I don't bring the free day food into my house. I leaves my home environment healthy and free of temptation. Stay Strong - Kat

I too have been decluttering my house and my life. I have found that getting rid of all that junk makes me feel a sense fo freedom that I have been longing for for a long time! I am not only transforming my body but my house as well!

One environmental change I have made is getting rid of all the junk. I found out, unfortunately, that if it is in my house, I can't resist. So out it all went. Stuff is allowed in the house on free day only, then is tossed at the end of the day. A change I need to make is to keep up better with my house cleaning. It really stresses me out when my house is a mess. I have been so busy lately (cooking more, working out), and the cleaning has taken a lower priority. Now that I have my schedule more "set" with my new habits, I will incorporate more housework back into it! Jill

Wrong vs. Right Environments In anything we do in our lives, whether it be physical , mental, or work productivity wise, we become the product of our environment. Which ever way the mind is structured to think, feel and act at the moment outwardly displays the product of your mental environment. At times, when we think of our environment, yes, we tend to also think of where we live, where we work, where we party and socialize and so forth. While that can be considered as environmentally influential, other things can also affect us. As of now, one thing which may potentially be considered an adverse environment is my bedroom. I have computer parts, vitamins and protein nutrition supplements, dirty and clean clothes, along with dry cleaned clothes scattered across where I sleep. I’ve put off cleaning my room, because I’ve been working online feverishly in keeping up with blogging, search engine stuff, affiliate marketing and my current Transformation.com challenge. So therefore, I’ve allowed my bedroom to be temporarily cluttered, thus creating a mildly adverse environment I can’t clearly think out of for now. I have to also push clothes out of the way, in order to perform abdominal crunches and leg lifts on the bedroom floor. Although I live in the suburbs, the outside environment can affect anyone’s train of thought. When I perform outdoor cardiovascular activity, I tend to only stay jogging in the suburban area and steer clear of going into the city to exercise in any way. Exercise of any kind done on my part in the suburban atmosphere allows my mind to breathe more easy, because I don’t have to look at a lot of city faces, and hear a lot of city noise. In addition, some city people tend to be very loud and tempermental, which I try to avoid dealing with. So for me, exercise of any kind in the city , which is not far from where I live now, is considered the wrong environment in my mind, along with my dirty room temporarily..lol As of tomorrow, I’ll hopefully clean up my room, in hopes that it’ll help me think more clearly. I say hope, because I’m behind in blogging, and writing search engine copy, which I do all of the work here online by myself. I must admit, when my room is clean, it feels more of a home office, rather than my bedroom. As of now, it’s a temporary landfill..lol I’ll work on straightening up the room, so I’ll potentially feel more encouraged in performing additional exercises, thus giving the extra push & build more muscle, and having cleanliness restored. Another positive influence environmentally is sticking to working out in a suburban environment, as I feel the atmosphere is much more pleasant, than going into the city of Wilmington to get a workout accomplished. So now that I’ve written my humble dissertation “ Hope it all sounds right and makes sense - smile ” on the wrong and right environment, it made me think enough on how any kind of environment can affect a person’s train of thought and productivity.

Intrestingly enough this comes at a perfect time in my transformation. Just yesterday I was realizing that in order to get the results I need I am going to have to change the relationship I have with my boyfriend...it is absolutely toxic! I have decided to not comment when he makes a snide remark. We get into these constant battle of words and it never goes anywhere, but down for the both of us. This morning I brought him coffee home from my workout...something he loves, but I resist quite often. I made him breakfast for valentines and even donned a little lingere..sorry sensors. All of these are such little changes, but so far today have made all the difference! I vow to continue to do this things and more to create a positive environment in my home. The rest of the stuff is unimportant in my journey at this point, but automatic non the less! Jennifer

Can you identify an “environmental change" which you’ve made so far which has helped you with your progress? 1. As many have… At the beginning of this challenge, 1. I got rid of all junk food and stocked it with the right kinds of foods. I also stocked my office with the right kinds of foods so I would never be caught in a position of not having what I needed to eat right. 2. I bought a treadmill and put it in my living room so that I would have what I needed to work out on the mornings I was not able to get to the gym Changes I am in the process of making which I believe will help me are: 1. Uncluttering my house, specifically my bedroom. Right now I do not feel at ease in any area of my home as it is such a mess. I usually go to work to be in my office to work on school, or anything else for that matter, as it is a comforting space and is uncluttered. I intend to organize my home, beginning with my bedroom so that the space is restful, peaceful and condusive to a inner transformation. I also intend to limit some toxic relationships. These relationships, although I cannot give up completly as they are with family, I can limit them and the time I give to them when they begin to suck the energy out of me, and instead use practices such as healing and positive prayer to affect them. I also intend to redo my upper office so that I can feel comfortable working on my school work from home, thereby being more available to my family....

I too made some environmental changes prior to actually starting the transformation process. I did not know that by doing I had already begun. The first thing I did was to step down as co-owner of the dance studio. It wasn't holding it's own and I'm not independently wealthy so can't support it financially. It was depressing and a burden to my heart to even go there. Any time I put in felt like wasted effort. I do need to go and remove some of my things from there but with the exceptions of some special performances and special classes, I'm done with it. Too much stress, too much drama, too much negativity all rolled into one place was just too much for me. I rearranged my den to provide more room for stretching and DVD led cardio workouts. I searched around and pulled out all the equipment that I used to use and the husband doesn't. Cleaned it off and put it out front and center so that I am ready to go. I've arranged my schedule to be home all day on Sundays so that I can do my laundry and cooking for the week. I actually find it very relaxing when I can get everything washed, folded, and organized. I love to organize. Since I've stepped back from the studio I've also stepped back from some the people that were emotionally draining. Everyone has a sob story, not enough cash, a cheating husband, a crazy momma... something. There was not enough balance with good things. My next step is to take some days off and give my whole house a thorough cleaning. I want to dust thing off, throw things out, and donate things to charity. I'm ready to streamline.

I live by Bill's quote "if you fail to plan you plan to fail" so every sunday I cook for the whole week, I grill chicken, make brown rice, veggies and a Hugh salad. That way we can just grab stuff for our lunches. For dinners I make a different EFL recipe every night for variety. This program has not been hard at all when you follow thru. The next change I am working on is not to bring alchole into the house on free day. My husband likes to drink his wine on saturday but my goal is to get us to have a glass of wine with our dinner out and not bring any home. We have gone from drinking 6 glasses a night to only one on the weekend. Big step for us. Glenda

FIRST CHANGE : Reintroduction of the FREE DAY CUPBOARD. This is actually a shelf in a designated cupboard that my family uses to store items we wish to enjoy until freeday. We moved away from it a year or so ago and ironically that is when I began snacking on junk again. With the freeday cupboard (shelf) any thing any of us wish to enjoy during the week can be purchased and set aside in the freeday cupboard. On freeday we have family night in which the family as a whole enjoys there freedays goodies that they waited all week for. This also eliminates the kids eating junk through out the week. SECOND Because Chi's seizures and the inability to have others watch her has compromised my efforts to work out at the gym I am moving my set of Select Tech Dumbells (heavy) into the Living Room as well as the treadmill. This will allow me all the weight I need and the ability to run while watching her. This is not so much removing something from my environment as it is transforming my environment to better suit my needs during this season.

One of the big things that I have been working on is de-cluttering my house. I find that if I keep up with the mail, laundry and keeping the house in order, that I feel better and act better. That also goes along with getting ready each day and taking the effort to make myself look pretty. I have found that these changes make my life run smother and that at the end of the day I feel peace instead of frustration. I need to help my Husband get his office cleaned up and our taxes done, so that I don't eat my worries away. Every year I seem to put it off and as a result I eat instead of working and it doesn't change the fact that they still need to get done. I also need to finish working with the bank on our refiance so we can make and keep some financial goals. I need to finish up my business web page and getting my business cards done. I have had some setbacks this week. One being that I've been really sick and I can see how the house goes from clean to dirty fast, and our refrigerator/Freeezor broke which complicates the whole food thing. The positive thing that came from that was that I had to actually clean the fridge out and throw away anything that was not good to have around. I want to continue applying these principles to all aspects of my life. It feels so good to make these changes and not be stuck anymore.

I prepared for the non-toxic non-addict approach before I actually joined the challenge. I cleaned my fridge, I do not buy processed foods or packaged foods, I cleaned my pantry of all undesireables and the last thing I did was to dump out a bottle of wine I was going to have for my birthday. Moving forward, to continue to create a great environment, I created my functional home gym and cut all the pages out of the book that show the exercises. I am going to copy them and hang them up like Kelly Adair did. It's so motivational. I custom made my workout shirts (that I just got) to wear all the time to inspire others. They have inspirational uplifting quotes of why we should work out. I love the shirts and will wear one tomorrow to the gym. If I need a boost I will watch www.lifewithoutlimbs.com

I. Environmental changes already made: 1. Rebuilt home (after Hurricane) to be “comfortable.” i.e. Earth tones, bamboos, and minimalist in “stuff.” 2. Made “new kitchen” w/all things necessary to make wonderful healthy foods, bread, pasta machines etc. 3. Set up recycling and composting along w/bulb replacements to “green type.” 4. Ended our “Dinner Club” a. eating/drinking too much and b. not ready (personal strength) to entertain. 5. Already posses a wonderful/quality library in our home filled with and organized into sections per subject. 6. Replaced (after flood) all workout equipment and made space to use it. 7. Prior to starting plan dispensed with all “crap” food. Transitioned to “soy milks” vs. real and are minimal read meat eaters, lean more to fish, turkey, chicken, veggie products 8. Purchased and trying to keep vitamins, minerals and Shakes/bars aplenty for positive building on hand 9. Don’t socialize and setting aside 18 weeks for minimal outside interference. “This is our time.” 10. Cleaned out the work trailer, storage room and house so well organized, free from clutter. 11. Planted all herbs that we cook with and two tomato plants, banana, & one each papaya and avocado trees. 12. We only watch a max. of 8 hours of TV a week (usually 2 Netflix’s and approx. 6 hrs of “History,” TLC,” “Travel,” “Boat repair,” “Local fishing reports,” “Jeopardy.” Etc.) 13. We fish, lobster, crab, or just snorkel, sunbath, kayak, and bike at least 4 hours a week if not much more. 14. We do the entire per the book BFL program daily (except on Sundays) 15. We go to church on Sundays, meditate, and do “spiritual” studies every morning, in bed while drinking our coffee prior to working out. 16. Just replaced old 4 old jallacy windows w/Green windows for energy conservation. 17. Ride bikes to work (my wife) and or local “shopping etc.” 18. Started (in setup stage) a “Learning the night sky,” program for kids at Pigeon Key w/an old telescope no one knew how to use so it just collected dust. 19. No TV watching in bedroom. II. Environmental changes on the drawing board: 1. Increase Meditation time. 2. Order, when affordable, a “true” composter, solar panels, and water heat/cool exchanger 3. When affordable get a “bottled water” machine (our H2O comes from Miami) 4. Plant orange/grapefruit trees and a key lime (for Savechee' not RUM drinks!) 5. Ease into more of a vegan diet AND ME TO DRINK MORE WATER! 6. Keep increasing our intensity and “push” in the workout program 7. Eventually “minimize” outward involvement on the BF website and “go deeper” into my being. Due to feeling that we all need “motivation,” “support,” knowledge that someone is making you accountable and relying on you and using you as their motivation from about week 1 to around week 10 and by that stage all current members doing their program are more into the “self focus” as they are past the “need” for “Ra-Ra” and support (other than just staying in touch with newly made friends and the “tweaking” of their programs for the finish line.) I know I’m a person that “gets energy by giving energy” to a point then I need to go “inside.” and internalize all that I have learned and am experiencing so I can “make it a permanent cell change.” 8. Fine tune, fine, tune, and fine tune, my program in both Spirit, Mind, Emotions, and Body. Mike

The biggest thing that I have done that has contributed to my success is to get rid of all foods that are not allowed. Last time I did BFL, I let some of the things stay for my husband and kids. But, like many of you said, I cannot be trusted! I will cheat if it's there on a bad day. I am not even allowing peanut butter. I could eat a whole jar and that has to be one of the most calorie-dense foods out there. We also eliminated diet pop! We always had cans in the fridge, mostly b/c my husband takes one to work each day.

For me environmental change has been a breath of fresh air that just needed to be inhaled. I go to college and school is a great place to find and create positive energy. I go to the gym daily. I make my meals mostly and I enjoy the time that I have with my wife and kids now. This only gets hard if I overthink what I need to do. Sometimes I do get negative but then I remind myself to imitate my blood type B+! These exercises are fun and insightful for me. I am greatful for the opportunities that Bill and company have pointed out to us.

The two environmental changes I have made are: 1. I no longer eat in the faculty room. It is not just and environment for bad eating, but it is a environment full of negative energy. As you said in a different lesson, the power of the mind will see what you want it to see. If you focus on the negative of children, you will see it. 2. I have been cooking my meals in advance and putting in them in plastic containers to help me stay on track with my EFL. Reducing the negative influence is what has helped me become much better in my work environment. It is so easy to become negative. I have found that people come to me with problems about what the administration has done, but instead of just "going along" with them, I take a step back and ask them why they think the principal did that. It is a whole new approach, but it is catching peoples eyes. Very cool Bill!

Environmental changes that I have made up til now. Well, I have not watched T.V. (News, stockmarket info,etc) except to watch a dvd with my daughters on Sunday nights! My only Free thing that I do is, go to Powell's Sweet Shop with my daughters and pick out the candy for the Sunday night show. Powell's has candy that I haven't seen since I was a kid. Do you remember Flicks, Bon Bons, Crows(Dots), Chick O Sticks? They have that and so many others that bring back great memories. I still eat the EFL way all day and don't miss anything at all. I look forward to Sunday nights and it makes me feel as if I cheaten the night if I were to go off program. Believe it or not that one movie on Sunday is what keeps me away from all of the unauthorized foods for the entire week! It is a piece of cake. One environmental change that I am going to make this week is to move my runs to outdoors. I have been training on the treadmill but Heidi has given me good reason to put some time in on the track and trails. I am running much better and feel fantastic, so I am ready for action! Hop.

I plan and prepare many parts of the meals for the week.(oatmeal, rice, seasoning blends etc.) I go to the gym and work out every day with my wife. Positive pressure is shared both ways between my wife and I.I do not buy chicken unless it clearly states hormone free.I explain to my children WHY they are eating wht they eat now.I also shop the corners of the store. I try to go to specific places for different food items like the butcher shop for meat, produce store for fruits, vegetables, grains, groats and whole whet pasta.That keeps me from wandering into areas I don't need to be in. I will be cleaning out all of the kitchen cabinets next weekend and donating all the non-perishable food to A local charity I support.~Dave

Thanks for the lesson Bill. 99% of my food shopping is done around the shell of the grocery store. No going down the "Temple of Doom" isles in the store! Also I am visiting t.com daily where there is always positive energy! Tara

The biggest change is that we have got rid of the TV! I found that it was always on and I that I would watch it just because it was there. Now it is gone I can give myself 100% to playing and reading with my little boy and evenings are great when I can sit and talk with my husband or read or just have some quiet time. Who knows what things I can accomplish now that I have all this extra time that used to be wasted watching rubbish on TV. Thanks Bill!

The environmental change for me is Where I get my source of food now. I used to get it from eating out (fast foods) every day and every now and again eating something healthy, now it is the opposite I eat healthy every day and some free days I may eat something bad, but right back the next day. I used to order takeout at work, now I pack a bag filled with Healthy food and I even have a small blender in m office at work that I mix my rightlight shakes in. I changed every aspect of my life at home and my life at work with healthy, not fatty foods. I used to miss meals and go for the big meal at dinner thinking I had more time to eat later, but realize now I feel so much better eating the 6 meals a day, and go to bed feeling great, and ready for the next day. Thanks, Brian

I have already made alot of environmental changes; no junk food, easy "safe" meals within easy reach. I don't allow myself to turn my computer on until after 8 a.m. or until my workout is finished. I got all my dvd's and set them where I could find them without effort. I moved my bike to my upstairs office, put my bands in there too. I set my schedule for workouts with my husbands so that we would be able to use the gym equipment downstairs. I quit drinking wine, I used to have one glass ea night with dinner. I liked it with cheese. One more change I could make in my environment is to buy some more shakers, so that it is even easier to mix my shakes. Another change I could make is to learn how to set the alarm on my phone and train myself for consistent eating schedules, I spent 51 years eating at 6,12 and 5, it may take me a while to relearn. I need more vegetables in the house...I just need to keep adding it on the grocery list.

The first change I did was stop buying junk food and stuffed my fridge and pantry with healthy food. And since I have to take care of my 5 month old twins and my 3 year old son who wakes up REALLY early my next change will be making my own exercise area on my house.

Assignment 7 (1.1.09) This assignment has been done for awhile, except for a final step, yesterday, removing myself from a website I wasted many hours on over the past 22 months (except for the last 2). It was not completely wasted (some hours were pretty valuable), though, as I have some dear friends that I met because of it and was able to give help to some wonderful newbies who were just starting out on challenges and asked me a lot of questions. That was really fun for me. I also got a lot of support when I was training and competed in my one Figure Comp. It was easy to get sidetracked there, because there was so much peripheral "stuff" that was not helpful, but entertainment (or what some might call entertainment) ;0). Since doing my first challenge, reading BFL multiple times, and also "Today Matters" by John Maxwell, I've done a pretty fair job in the last years of keeping in the right environments and keeping time with people "who suck the life out of you and don't want to change" to a minimum. I will continue to look for ways to refine my environments as I live. It's a vital point of staying on track and using our energy wisely. :) TIME IS PRECIOUS! I realized I want anything I spend time on to have PURPOSE in my life.

Bill I could not have done this a few months ago,today Im learning to walk away from the temptations ,this is not to say that the temptation has won at times its just my mind wins way more now than my temptation does now thanks for the support gregc

I've created two major changes in my environments, one at home, and one at work. At home, I've stopped buying cases of beer that I had in the fridge for if someone comes over or if I've had a bad day. It's just too tempting to grab one while I'm watching TV with my fiancee and then one becomes four and then look at where you are! At work (I work at Costco), I've started taking a lunchbox everyday with meals so I won't be tempted to buy from the food courts. It would seem that Costco hot dogs, pizza, and chicken bakes are ALL bad for you! Crazy! In addition, I don't carry any cash with me whenever I go to work or school, because it would be too tempting to go to a vending machine and grab a quick soda or candy bar to get me through the next class. These environmental changes have already shown an impact on my mind and my body, and it was a shock for me when my fiancee came home and said, "How long have you been on the program?" When I told her nine days, she called me a liar and said I looked too good for only nine days! If that's not motivation and a clear case of positive pressure, then I don't know what is! - Shane

HI BILL, I HAVE ALSO CLEANED OUT ANY JUNK FOOD FROM MY HOME. I HAVE NOT BEEN BUYING IT. WHO WAS I KIDDING ?MY SON WASN'T EATING THE COOKIES, I WAS. I HAVE ALSO STOPPED BINGE EATING IN THE CAR.I TOLD MYSELF I MUST SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND REALLY ENJOY MY MEALS.

My environmental change: I have stopped being in places that usually require me to drink alcohol. I have been keeping pretty busy with exercise, karate, time with my family, t community. I am also more aware of my surroundings, esp my home. I used to be so tired and just left the laudry lying around or the kids toys. I now pick up what I see and keep things more organzied. This way, when I want to pick up and go, I do not have chores keeping me back.

My environmental change has been to seek after only positive people and cling to success instead of discouraging people. I choose to remove myself from massive stressful situations that I continually put myself into. I pray more often, I sing more often, I give of myself more. My environment is not going to be conducive to my realistic environment but the mental environment I create in my mind. In other words.... I've been focusing on only good thoughts and striving to seek after greatness instead of mediocrity and no longer allowing environment to dictate my emotions or will. I will continue to look for encouraging notes, sayings, scriptures and people as I travel this road of change.

I have kept All of the junk food out of my environment. So much so that there are not any processed foods except Whole wheat Crackers and some pasta, which I don't eat much of anyway. My kids not have Fruit to snack on and they love it. My brother came over to baby sit my kids the other day and he didn't know what to eat. It's funny how people have adapted to eating anything that is readily available and don't even think of preparing their food. I am comfortable being around it now. My neighbor brought over cookies when I invited her for dinner the other night. I didn't have even a crumb. It didn't bother me either. ;) I have organized my schedule to make my exercise routine a very important appointment and My husband knows he is watching the kids and when. I have set some exercise appointments with Friends on specific days to keep eachother accountable. Yes, It takes a lot of time to prepare my meals for work so that I am not tempted to get something from the snack machine. But I know that if I don't, I will be tempted or very hungry if I don't eat my meals as planned. I have extra protein shake and milk at work in case I forgot a meal or need to stay late. I basically thought of everything I could to leave myself with no excuses!!!

I have learned I can't be trusted with chocolate in the house so I make sure to keep it away. My husband has a terrible sweet tooth, but he usually buys sweets that I wouldn't eat so it's not a huge problem. I just keep telling myself to be strong and on my free day I can have chocolate!

Environmental Changes...I am a big believer of keeping junk food out of my house too - I know that I won't be able to have "just one" of something and put it away. The other environmental change that I am working on is still planning - right now I am doing great and I know that I have to measure and portion out everything because I am not a good judge (yet - I am getting there)...work in progress!

Can you identify an “environmental change" which you’ve made so far which has helped you with your progress? 1. As many have… I have stopped buying snack foods unless they are foods for my kids… and the ones I now buy are those that I have NEVER liked in the first place. 2. I’ve also made an “environmental” change of getting away from anyone who is eating junk food. Like in the break room at work when someone brings in cake or cookies. 3. Trying to remove myself from people who are constantly negative or limiting my time around them. (At least right now… until I gain the strength to help them turn things positive). My focus is currently to continue to work on myself. 4. I have pushed the scale away from my sight and only get on it 1x week so I don’t disappoint myself or get frustrated or turn negative on myself. 5. I have made “good snacks” readily available and have always packed something in my purse to have so I don’t miss my mid morning or mid afternoon snacks. 6. Shopping patterns… I now completely plan my grocery list… always trying to plan a new meal to look forward to that we haven’t cooked or tried yet… and also to plan meals for the week. This environmental change has greatly decreased my stress and also time getting meals ready. And can you identify another environmental change which you can make today which will further support your success? 1. My environmental change to make by the end of today is to create a new dream or inspiration board… that will continue to push me forward… helping me see my further vision and also to more prominently place my goals in my sight to review everyday.

One thing that I put into practice is a specific grocery shopping pattern. I know that as a food addict, if it's in the house, I will fixate on it unitl I can't stand it anymore and I eat it all. My husband is a source of fascination for me because he could buy a pint of ice cream, eat a little, put it back in the fridge, and I end up throwing it out because he forgot it was there and it went bad. I have no concept of how to live like that. Seriously I don't. SO, whereas I used to shop on Sunday, which by the way, is the day AFTER my free day, I now shop on Friday nights after work. Here's the advantage: I'm not tempted to buy anything off my plan and tack on a free day to the weekend. On Friday I buy all the ingredients I need for eating clean, and I buy whatever it is I am going to want for Free Day the next morning. The key is to buy only what I know I can consume and nothing more. If I don't eat it, it gets thrown away. Then I am left with all healthy foods for the rest of the week, and the goodies are out of site out of mind. I als bought a minature refriderator for my office. I can keep my specifically planned meals in it, and not have to go near the break room which is full of vending machines.

I really don't buy much junk food so that really isn't an issue for me. What I have done in my environment is to keep things picked up, clean and organized. I can think so much clearer when I don't have to be distracted with things that need to be done. It also makes you feel like your Ready for what's next. The other environmental change will be to make sure I have all of the food necessary, otherwise I will end up skipping the meal. I stay pretty committed to the plan but I choose not to eat than to eat something I shouldn't. I am also limiting my computer time, actually trying to schedule certain times to be on so that I can be with my family 100% when they are home.

NO soda and lots of H2O - Not stepping into any of fast food places - have cut out eating red meat which I thought for me would be impossible - my body feels so much better since making these chages

Assignment #5: The Power of a Positive Environment: Well let me say that the first thing I did was to clean out my pantry and refrigerator. I through away the cookies, pastries., candy, ice cream, breads and etc. ( both where empty.) I went to the grocery store and replaced all the bad stuff with Healthy Authorized foods form the Eating-for=Life book. Since I have started the Challenge I have not kept snack foods, because I know I will eat them. I admit I'm tempted when I visit my friends house, but I just stay out of her kitchen. I have changed my eating habits and my will power grows stronger every day. When I eat out I eat only half of the meal and take the rest home for the next day, I never go back for seconds any more and use the 6" plate theory( I ask for the childs plate). I prepare my meals the night before and that is what I eat the next day, only that. I now have no problem passing up the McDonald's or Burger King " triple by-pass special." (double cheese with bacon.) I stay out of the wrong environment so I'm not tempted. I have found that in order for me to succeed I have to control things around me and create my own environment, a safe one. I cannot let anyone control it for me. John

I drink water and freshly brewed plain ice tea no sugary/chemical filled drinks I told my family and they are aware of the FREEDAY concept and now understand that eating healthy and exercising makes Mommy very happy to be around! I am watching almost no TV now I plan my day, journal, interact with interest with my kids and husband. I care about my space and take the time to keep it orderly and clean. I am more present in my life not alsleep on the couch after a glass of wine and an uninspired evening of sitcoms

The first envionmental change I am most proud of is letting go of the alcohol. I no longer drink which is a hugh step for me. Second I prepare a lot of food on sunday to get a head start so we can just open the fridge and grab stuff for the week. (Plan Plan Plan is my moto) I journalize my eating every day to keep me on course. I never keep junk food in the house anyway and when my 18 year old daughter comes home from college to visit and brings it with her I toss it when she leaves. I also make sure I try a new EFL recipe every day so we don't get bored or tired of the same stuff Glenda

My greatest "environmental change" is preparing my food in advance and planning my meals/workouts for the week. Something in need to do in the future is to not accept the awesome food my parents make, who are professional cooks, Definitely, not healthy foods. It is so tempting. Also, I need to not over indulge on my free day. Thanks, Bill

Hi Bill- I have like many others, taken and de-cluttered most of the toxic foods from my home. My hubby likes chocolate so his little stash is way back on top of the fridge. In my Mind and vision a "Champion's" environment would look something like this... Blender on the counter cleaned and ready to go. Protein powder next to it and hanging banana's. A spice rack that holds daily vitamins and omega 3's as well as a vast array of tasty spices from around the world. Shakes within an arms reach. Cubboards full of healthy choices such as oatmeal and grains, healthy pasta's & canned veggies as back-ups. Fruit bowl on the counter with lemons, limes, oranges and apples. Whole wheat bread and whole wheat tortilla's in the bread bin as well as a big bag of potatoes. Chilled water in the fridge along with an array of beautiful colorful foods from your list. The freezer has fish and chicken and maybe a lean steak as well as tons of bags of frozen veggies. The BFL journal is handy at all times.Workout attire is set out and ready to jump into with ipod charged and ready to go. Liz;)

I have a house full of clean foods and booted all the junk. Also I keep shakes handy incase I can't make a meal which prevents bad choices. It's better to have and not need, than need and not have. I CAN...I WILL

I can plan all I want, but if my kitchen is cluttered I don't feel like cooking or preparing meals. So I've been trying to keep the counters, sink and preparation area clean. Its the last thing I do before heading up to bed. I make sure that my kitchen are sparkles for the next day. That is spilling to the rest of the home. Emotionally , I need work so am looking for a therapist. But in the meantime less TV, more painting.

THE POWER OF RIGHT ENVIRONMENTS 1. I am surrounding myself with the proper environments Media - using my iPod to listen to audiobooks about success stratgies and nutritional/exercise sciences. I listen almost all day. This has been huge for me. It gives me constant motivation and I feel a weight off my back. It is easier to deal with the daily cravings and obstacles. Work - I prepare all my food to take to work. I do not eat anything during working hours that I did not bring. My only beverage at work is water. Home - Only authorized foods allowed. Period. I am working on not being lazy about keeping a large variety of various foods in my home. Any free day food is purchased on free day. Any leftover fun foods are discarded. Mental/Spiritual - Concentrating on being of service to my students, family and community. Spending as much time as is practical on T.com to asorb the knowledge and help others when possible. Relationships - Practicing my spiritual side by being as attentive and kind to all in my life. Good relationships are very important and sustaining.

Changed Environments: 1. Restaurants are so easy when I'm over worked and tired. Now, EFL meals prepped weekly and cooked at home. I've never been a junk food girl, so that part is easy. 2. I was spending too much time with the "fun" girls. More restaurants and drinking. Now, I choose to stay within my comfort zone, I say no thanks and I stay home with my Transformation community. Environments that still need changing: 1. I need to...I will get the alcohol out of the house. When a friend stops by, it's so easy to offer a glass of wine and then before you know it, I'm having 1 or 4 myself. This is great! Perfect timing, as it is week 4, and I am currently re-evaluating what is working and what is not. Thanks! - M "Do Or Do Not. There Is No Try!" - Yoda

The biggest environmental change I have made is trading the bar and alcohol for the gym and protein shakes. Staying sober is the only way I can finish this challenge. It's also the only way I can make it in life. So I still have many environments I need to change. Starting with the people who surround me who drink daily.

Assignment Seven "Let’s get started. I’m asking you to now exercise your understanding of the power of “Wrong vs. Right” environments. Can you identify an “environmental change" which you’ve made so far which has helped you with your progress? And can you identify another environmental change which you can make today which will further support your success? Wrong Environment Before-Right Environment Now McDonalds number two, extra large, is replaced by my Eating for Life meals prepared in my Kitchen. Soft drinks and energy drinks at work is replaced by a gallon of water from home. Uncontrollable spending of money is replaced by paying 10% to my church, living within my means, and eliminating debts. Out of Control unhealthy eating is replaced with the right foods, amounts, combos, and times. Sofa and television is replaced by the indoor track and weight room down the road. Heavy rock music and static on the radio is replaced by uplifting music. CNN.com is replaced by Transformation.com. State of stress, anxiety, anger is being tranformed into patience and kindness Overnight graveyard shift is being replaced by a dayside shift in March. Eating in front of the television is replaced by eating at the dinner table Days off consisted of lounging around the house in my pajamas all day with no plan is now replaced with a shower, grooming, button down shirt, slacks, and a plan. Small cluttered two bedroom apartment for a family of six will be replaced with a larger place this year. Another environment change that I will make: Spending too much time on the computer and replace it with a scheduled time so I will spend my other time Being the Change for my children and wife

The difficult environment I have is an office with food brought by pharmaceutical reps. I stock up on 4 oz. cottage cheese, string cheese, protein shakes and bars and fruit and veggies in the fridge, so I am ready with my meals every couple of hours. For the afternoon slump when I want something hot, I do oat bran with Right protein powder for Chocolate Oat Bran. It's delicious!

Wow, this is wisdom personified. Just how important is our environment to our ability to make it through this transformation? HUGE! Here are some environment changes I had to make to survive my first month. * Pre-cooking the food, meals and snacks for my business trips out of town. Not easy for a 3 day trip but necessary if I am going to resist temptations. In the past, I would reward myself for a hard days work on the road with . . . . . FOOD! * When setting up my reservation with hotels, first thing on my list now, is to find out what kind of workout facilities they have. If they fail this test, I find another hotel. It’s to easy to justify missing work outs on the road! * Making sure I always have access to healthy snacks and meals and eating them regularly. I do fine as long as I am eating 5 to 6 times a day. If I miss a meal or snack and do not have something healthy handy. Look out! Fast food starts pulling at me big time! One of the changes in my current environment that I need to make is cooking things rather than using canned goods. For example, I am eating a lot of black beans but I am getting the canned black beans. After reading Chris Winters inspiring blogs on his food choices, I am convinced I need to get away from the processed foods. My new strategy will be to cook up a batch of homemade organic black beans that will last the week. I will follow this same pattern with brown rice and others vegetables. This will be another environmental change that will make it easier for my transformation to stay on course!

Environment change this is a good one. We are buying more healthy food. Watching less TV and going to bed at a desent time. Cleaned up my work out room and made condusive for working out that was a big one. Thanks for giving so much of yourself away. Jeff

I have 6 "Set Yourself Up For Success" strategies: 1. Planning and Prep for the upcoming week. 2. Removing junk from house 3. Telling waiter not to bring the chips and salsa 4. Telling my mom in advance what I would like to eat when I go visit. 5. Workout area at home is ready with workout plan and clothes and equipment. Also research new exercices in advance. 6. Limit association with "toxic friends" who have bad habits and negativity.

I don't buy the junk food. You're right, the best discipline for me is to avoid the wrong environment. I've been loving homemade vegetable soup and lots of different types of salads with barely a touch of vinegar and oil. I've become absolutely well...nuts about nuts! So I have to be careful how much I eat of them because I will go overboard and over eat. I don't even discuss my exercising with people who don't think that it's possible. I've found that there are plenty of people in my life that I will have to SHOW the change. I think this assignment becomes increasingly easier as we go along in the transformation. Beverly :D

I have six other people in the house, that still eat junk, so unfortunately I cannot totally rid my house of junk. I really had to develop a determined mindset. I did purify my mind, in a way, when I see a bag of chips those are not "my chips", they are the kids and off limits to me. As a mom, I would never take food out of one of my kids' mouths, so I look at it that way, if I were to get into it and consume it. (like stealing from my kids) The same mental mindset goes when I cook for them. It's hard to put it into words. I don't look at their food as food..I look at it as an act of caring and nuturing them and disassociate it as food. That keeps me from being tempted or even considering eating it. I put all my foods, that have to be refrigerated, on one shelf in the fridge. The other two shelves are the rest of the family's. It helps keep the kids from diving into something of mine, that I am planning on using, for a meal, and it keeps me from being tempted, when rummaging for my items and seeing something I used to use as comfort food. I keep fruit and pretzels out, hoping to encourage more healthy eating around here. :) My thought life...I won't watch overly violent programs or horror movies. I cannot stand seeing someone hurt or tortured in any way. It really bothers me greatly. That happened naturally, by itself, without me consciously doing it. *If you put garbage in..you get garbage out"

Assignment # 7 - Wrong vs. Right environments Identify an “environmental change" which you’ve made so far which has helped you with your progress? When I started this transformation I started in the kitchen and cleaned out all the “Junk Food” and replaced it all with good healthy food. This way there’s never a temptation to eat something I should not. If you have to leave the house and go to the store to buy junk food it is most likely that you will not. But if it’s in the house you probably will eat it, so don’t bring it in and on my Free Day I just eat that treat that day and then it’s not in the house any other time. With the Eat for Life cook book there are so many snacks that you can make to replace the junk food with and I have felt 100% better since I started this progress. Also my wife, child and I all sit down at dinner time, pray together and eat together each and every day. In today’s society with all the fast food chains and everyone eating on the go, we found that cooking a good well balanced diet and sitting down and eating as a family brings it home for all of us. Identify another environmental change which you can make today which will further support your success? To turn the TV off and make more time for the important things in my life. Before the Transformation started I also thought I did not have time in my life to exercise or eat right. Boy was I wrong, I realized that all the time that I thought I didn’t have was used up by TV. To turn to TV off and replace it with exercise and family time. I can’t say anymore that I don’t have the time when I do. Making these small changes can make big progress in my transformation. Thank you – John W.

we've gone back to eating healthy (no junk in house) and we've eating at the kitchen table again, NO MORE in front of computer or TV. (it's hard but doeable).

The environmental changes that I have made are: I watch way less tv and have replaced it with motivational reading, my Transformation lessons, and Transformation and Tracker web site activity. I have also distanced myself from some caustic angry people who I have had to deal with. This will probably change once I learn to deal constructively with them, but until then, I know that we are not good for each other. I have tried to improve my working space by being positive and I have positive sayings and such pasted everywhere that I can see them to meditate on. I will not purchase any alcohol during my transformation to keep it out of the house. I meditate on the word of God each night before I go to sleep. I journal all of my workouts, eating and thoughts of the day every evening instead of reading fluff books. Well, that is my start for now. I know that there are many more things that I will change. I really enjoy reading everyone elses environmental changes. Great Job everyone! Mary Jo

My family is the greatest environmental change I have made as they support my goals and encourage me to eat right and stay on track. I am also cutting back on the news that I m addicted to. I just don't need the steady diet of bad news and hear how bad the future looks.

I am an avid scrapbooker and stamper and when we built our house in July 2007 we put an additional 300 sq feet in it so I could have a classroom for my hobbies. Well, two weeks ago I gave up the room and installed a home gym with an elliptical, a station gym and a vertical bench. there's enough room for me to do Tae Bo or step aerobics, too. I moved my craft room to a spare bedroom and will now conduct my classes at the dining room table! Another change I made is to not have junk food in the house.

I certainly have made the food change, to keep bad things out of the house. Additionally I use small plates, so I'm not tempted to increase my portion. The other big environmental change for me is that this site has become part of my routine. Along with recording my food and exercise in a paper binder, because it's just easier to review. I visit T.com almost everyday. I don't always post, sometimes I just review a few blogs and look at some pics to inspire me. It's time I would have normally watched tv and snacked... it's fortifying my mind. :)

Junk food out isn't enough for me. I need to surround myself with healthy foods that I love, which is getting easier as I really take hold of eating right and desiring to do so. Simple foods- a toasted turkey sandwich or berries in yogurt with almonds are great treats, that I had forgotten about for awhile, but am enjoying once again. i live really close to the grocery store, so it is never enough to just keep the junk food out of the house. I can be to the store and back in ten minutes. So, this surrounding myself with good healthy foods is crucial. Plus, it is hard to eat too much healthy food, because it fills me up so quickly. Eating is the battle for me. So, this is my greatest challenge.

The first and most obvious environmental change Cher and I made was to go to the grocery store with the EFL shopping list in hand and buy a ton of food to start this challenge with. We've begun encouraging our kids to focus on smaller portions and eating more often and we ourselves have switched to eating 5-6 times per day. As to things I commit to handling during the challenge, I commit to cleaning and restoring integrity to my home, my workspace, and my car.

One environmental change that I have made is removing junk foods. I have whole grains, fruits, veggies, protein shakes, and lean meats in the house now. I re-arranged my workout room and am planning on adding mirrors. I have always hated mirrors, but I will learn to like them as what I see in them improves. I have no alcohol in the house except unopened bottles of wine...I live in Napa, you don't have to drink it to have it in the house. :) I have cleaned my environment and my kids are learning what it is to treat your body like a temple...well...me too. I will write encouraging notes around the house. Uplifting scriptures will be posted. I will be more mindful of what goes in my body and mind.

My biggest environmental challenge was at work. Without taking my meals with me to work, it was far too easy to go to a fast food joint or to the snack machine to get something to eat. Now, I carry a small cooler with my healthy meals in it in addition to a big bottle of water. I've set up my work environment for success.

I have set up my kitchen for SUCCESS and have not purchased any junk during the challenge. I make sure that I have PLANNED my meals for the day and I pretty much eat the SAME thing everyday ensuring consistancy and momentem in my RIGHT EATING! I love it! Staying prepared is the KEY! I can say I have stayed on track 19 days STRAIGHT and its amazing! I LOVE IT!! SETTING UP in your mind this is the PLAN and this is what I am sticking too really causing your body to follow as you well KNOW! Thanks for all these wondering assignments! LOVING IT! Thanks so much BILL! HUGS and BLESSINGS TO YOU!

I just dont buy the stuff that is going to tempt me. I have found that I get my chocolate through my protein/mealreplacements. I have my chocolate once a day. Even if someone brings in donuts to work I stick my nose in the box and then walk away! I dont need that stuff. I keep thinking I am working my butt off and I am not going to ruin it. C-it Acheive It!

Hey Bill, I know from past experience that if it is in the house, I will eat it. My children know that I am serious about this and so I don't let anything come into the house that is not on the plan. On my free days, I only get one or two cheat foods and make sure that it will only last me for a meal and that way I don't waste money by having to throw it out.

Since i started my change process i have kept my enviroments free of temting uhealthy stuff. except for my wine refrigerator i'm good. the day of my free day i bought stuff, but tossed it already. I got a couple of lockers set up in the gym, which have everything i need to take a shower and go back to work. spoke to my wife and changed from eating toogether at lunch and having dinner every night at eight. This is big step for us since we live in a country where the most imoprtant meal is lunch. now i excercise at lunchtime and go back to work. Its all sistematic now.

Ok...one big enviroment change I have made that is very hard for me is...I haven't gone out and found a new roommate in two months...I have been struggling with making my rent and bills, and also I lost my 2nd job...Now the positive side is going to sound crazy... But, without a roommate, I am able to sleep better, which gets me up easier to exercise... I don't have beer or sweets in my fridge all the time now, like my roommate kept... and the fact that I have no money to spend on anything that I use to, like beer, ice cream, pizza or Ihop, helps me not to be tempted...cause I'm too poor to...I'M POOR, BUT HAPPY!!! What I can change today?... shorten my tv time and work on my projects!

Okay Bill this is a hard one for me. I have a 3 year old and a 2 year old who were in the 5th and 10th percentile for their weight the last time they went for their check ups and the doctor. They need all the calories they can get. They need to eat real whole cheese, where I need to eat the light cheese. They need peanut butter on whole wheat bread, where I don't really need peanut butter and need light whole wheat bread with just 40 calories a slice. They need regular yogurt and cottage cheese where I need light yogurt and light cottage cheese. And the list goes on. So we have both in the house and I pray a lot to not eat a peanut butter cracker when I make lunch for them. This is a challenge I will keep working on. Any suggestions for help would be greatly appreciated, maybe there is another mom who has some real skinny kids out there too.

I don't have any junk food in the house and I have been drinking water and green tea like it is going out of style! I am eating right and exercising right!

Changes so far: picked the closest gym to the house so I wouldn't have any excuses! I gave up diet sodas this past summer and don't drink regular ones either. I don't buy any junk food. I look for healthy snacks. If my daughter wants something, I talk to her about the healthiest choice she can make. If I allow her to have a treat....I make sure it is either something I don't like or something that she will consume right away. One change I am going to make tonight is laying out my gym clothes so that when I awake to take my daughter to school, I go straight to the gym. I also have to make sure that I get enough sleep so that I can make it a great workout. So that means going to bed earlier. I have been taking her and then coming back home, going back to bed...the getting up and slowly starting my day. Then I go to the gym before I pick her up. My day is all jumbled up. This Saturday when I got up early and went, I felt great all day and slept better as well. I know my metabolism will be going all day as well if I do this instead of just have the day and dragging myself through the other half. Making the change to be the change!

Food- No junkfood, fried , soda. switch to green tea and lots of water tv. don't really watch tv as much, it truly affect you and when i do watch is usually history channel or food. like to watch movies from the bible...like Moses, etc. like to watch teaching on self development, bible teachings and the "how to" videos. Enviroment- well can not really control that right now, i live at YMCA, but I'm not control by my enviroment, God has given me the grace to be pure and holy unto Him, i have made some mistakes on my own accord but for the most part, I'm not control by the enviroment. Radio-don't really listen to it, sometimes i listen to 1230am and 720am, christian stations, but I do listen to a lot christian music, some jazz and classical at times.

I follow the program and do not deviate. I do not have junk food in my house and if junk food is what I want I do it on my free day. If I go to parties I drink 2 cups of water before I go and I pick food items that fit into the program

Staying true to the nutritional side of the BFL equation has always been my biggest challenge, so...... > The first environmental change I made was to cook up a bunch of portion controlled BFL complient meals and stock my freezer with 2 weeks worth (2 per day). Now, when I'm ready for a meal, I don't passivly cruise the refrigerator or pantry to see what's there, I actively reach for a frozen meal and pop it in the microwave. > My committment for a new environmental change is to order up a bunch of Right shakes, so that I always have another healthy alternative for additional variety. > WorkoutGuy

The big thing we did was to get rid of the non-approved food. It's a lot easier to eat right if all the food you have in the fridge is the good stuff.

I have stopped all sodas, even diet sodas from my available drinks. I drink close to or over a gallon of water each day. I'll drink some V8 Fusion Light once a day for some added extra fruits and veggies, but that's pretty much it. What other thing I can do is to get the internal negativity out of my life. Change the "I have to" to "I get to"!! Chad - Not just a resolution, I'm becoming a part of the Revolution!

NO SODA! I have stopped keeping it in the house. Before I started, I wuld go to the grocery store, and grab a soda at the deli, and drink up while I shopped. Ya know what? I changed grocery stores! LOL! No fountain drinks at the new store. I have also purged my home of my trigger foods. Thanks for the lesson today. Like was stated on an earlier post, I have also tried to make my intentions known to everyone so that the enviornment (people) around me knows what i am trying to do. That way even if I wanted to slip up, I couldn't. Another thing I have done in my enviornment, I have placed around items that remind me of my goals, such as pictures from past challenges, and inspirational thoughts. That way when I look in the pantry, there is a picture of a healthy me looking back at me, and I chicken out of grabbing the kids' cheetos. ~Harlee

I live in a household with my husband, my daughter, her boyfriend and my granson. I practice eating the right things at the right times in the right amounts and keep other peoples goodies behind closed cabinet doors. Because I don't get hungry, and the treats are not mine, they are not an issue usually............hey, close that cabinet door! Another change going on right now is I'm spending my time reading instead of watching TV in the evening. I'm currently reading through "Eating for Life" and incorporating some of those receipes into my family meals.

I moved all junkfood out of my sight..I had a big Bowl of Puppy Chow that I made the weekend before I started...I think I ate a couple of handfulls...That had to go because there was nowhere to hide it...I keep water at my side so I grab for that when I am thirsty and I also Make sure I follow my food plan...If I deviate...it is with other healthy choices..Say a Banana instead of cottage cheese.. This way I do not feel guilty..

Bill, this may not be what you're looking for, but I changed my workout environment from home to the gym this weekend, after hearing sad news affecting a close friend - I needed to get out of the house to be a support, but also to workout. I've been hoping to use some favorite cardio DVD's at home in the cold weather, but I am going to check out the classes at the gym - despite the cold, I believe I need the gym environment right now. I will add outdoor walks, and maybe even skating on the canal, weather permitting. Otherwise, I hang out in healthy environments! I will need to be conscious about accepting invitations from friends - I'm blessed with friends from many cultures who love to cook their traditional foods, and unfortunately, I love to eat them!!! Free day invitations only!!!!

One change I've made is to not let the people I call emotional vacuums come into my everyday life and attempt to suck me dry of my will and energy. I had a number of people in my life that only withdrew from the emotional bank account and never really made the deposits to keep the account current. Those are the people I've let go. Secondly, I have been keeping my gym bag always within eye sight so that I am constantly reminding of the importance of exercise and keeping that part of the transformation consistent.

[*] FOOD - I don't bring junk into the house. I'm like you, if it's here I eat it. Only I don't stop with a few nibbles, I eat until it's gone.
[*]TV - I only watch two shows, and can only catch the news every few days. So the mind is pretty well cleaned up.
[*]ENVIRONMENT outside the home - Well I don't go to bars, clubs, or hang out with anybody, so I'm good there too.
[*]RADIO - Hmm mostly talk radio, and I guess it's not that positive, so I will change over to music. (Classic Rock from the 70's, and maybe some old country...)

The very first enviromental change I made was in my mind. "Where the mind gos, the man follows", so I changed my mind about where I was going. The next thing I did and must continue to do is planning my meals ahead of time as well as my work-outs and making sure I have plenty of water, protien bars and meal replacement shakes w/shaker in the trunk of my car at all times. That way I always have what I need, when I need it. A gym bag isn't a bad idea either!

One of the changes is being more accountable with regards to my water intake. I would always say I drink lots of water. But now I measure out the water that I am to drink that day and don't go to bed until the last bottle is drank. This one is tough and still being modified. We have like two sets of friends our spiritual friends from our church and long time friends. With our long time friends when we gather it is always around delicious food and good wine. With our spiritual friends we gather for coffee and fellowship. We are and will continue to make a conscious effort during our transformation to limit the times we expose ourselves to our drinking and eating friends and spend more time with our spiritual friends until we have enough strength to be around the temptations that are there with our old lifestyle. We love all of our friends but we recognize the need to enrich our lives more spiritually then feeding our tummies.

The main enviromental change for me was getting all the unhealthy foods out of my house and restocking it with clean, healthy foods. I didn't just throw everything out, I made it a goal that when it was gone, it was gone!! And my next trip to the grocery store was great because I actually took my time and got healthy clean foods from the list while explaining to my daughter how these foods would be so much better for our bodies. The one change I can make today is actually spending some active time with my daughter doing something that will allow us to move rather than just sitting and watching a movie.

I check in with T.com regularly... I listen to music that lifts me up and make sure to read things that are inspirational. I surround myself with healthy, easy to prepare, delicious food and work at not going too long without eating. I do my workouts first thing so I don't put them off or miss them. I hired a personal trainer to help with weekly accountability.

What I've done. When I go grocery shopping each week, I list only good foods to buy and I stick to that list. If any bad foods are bought that day, its because my wife bought them for her or my son. I ask them if they eat the bad foods to please not eat them around me. It works perfectly.

I threw away the alcohol in my house. I will throw away the diet/fitness magazine I just gotin the mail.

What ive done : Having the right food in the house and none of the wrong food, its worked!! What I could do: Stop just turning the tv on in the evening, which creates an environment im not in control of, too much negativity, violence and gossip.

not behind...just transferring from written journals to here... my environmental changes...I am in charge of the food shopping at our house so i get to control what we eat for the most part. Leaving sugar and processed foods in the stores for everyone else has helped me. I will be the one that will take home the fresh spinach and organic tomatoes and cage free eggs. I am not wasting money on junk so i can buy the good stuff. I have now ingrained into my psyche that it is okay to have cookie dough in the freezer and i can make a batch of them for my son to take back to his college. I can keep 3or 4 of them for myself and my husband on our FREE DAY and we are fine with that. I am also spending less and less time online and loving it. I am changing my "glued to computer" existence to one that includes grass and dirt and blue sky and meeting with other people face to face. wow...life in 3D! this transformation thing found me at a really good time...and is quite possibly a lifesaver, marriage saver...at the very least my life has been enriched and fortified by this commitment. thank you.

ight vs. Wrong environment. What have I done to make my environment for this transformation better and what else CAN I change about my environment to make it even better for my succuess in this journey. Well, Bill nailed the first one for me. I have had to do the same thing he does. Get all the junk food out of the house. I am a stay at home mom and am home with it ALL DAY LONG!!!!! No matter how much I try to tell myself that i have the will power to not have the junk, it doesn't happen. I give into one little bite here and there or I tell myself that it won't matter if I have just one treat that day, so I have had to learn that what I REALLY needed was the will power to just say no to having that junk in the house at all. It has truly made my life SO MUCH easier to just rid the house of the crappola. Now, what else can I do to change my environment to further my sucess? This is a harder question for me to answer. Continue to work harder at keeping my home clean and in order. I notice that when my home is clean and in order I am more active and have more energy and more of a desire to get up and get things done. When my home is a mess, I tend to get a slow start everyday, not shower until after 11am and I sit around watching TV or surfing the net. So, even though I have begun this change in keeping my home cleaner and more in order, I still need a lot of work on this, so that's what I will list as what else I CAN change. Amy

The environmental change I have already made is to clear out the cupboards, refrigerator, the pantry and my secret stash of Werther's Originals hidden in my closet. Soda is my worst culprit, also sugary foods in the middle of the night, so I have banned them from the house. I have found that if they are not there I will not go get any at 3 a.m., I will just go back to bed....YAY Timberly!! As I was going over this lesson, I realize the power of right environments can be utilized in every area of our lives. Since starting the transformation, I have made a goal list including the following areas: Health/Weight: To change doctors. I have never been comfortable with my physician but went to him because my husband liked him. I will choose a physician who believes in health as a top priority and be totally honest with that person and myself regarding the areas in myself unhealthiness has affected...Stay on top of getting yearly exams, blood screenings and med changes as needed. Emotional: I am making the change of only putting the right things into my mind....whether it's reading, watching television, conversations, or self talk. I WILL continue with this environment as it is improving the quality of my thinking....the old adage, "garbage in, garbage out" or "postivity in, positivity out" really works. Personal: I am making the change of making myself a priority...the way I look, the way I feel, what I want in my life and who I am as a person. This has been a hard environmental change...but this transition is going to be well worth it! Spiritual: We, as a family, have made a promise that we were starting back to church. We used to be very involved and when we moved back to my husband's hometown, we just got busy doing other things and for no reason in particular, (except maybe it being easier) we did not find a congregation to worship with. But we have found a congregation and are loving it!! Bill will be proud, but my mom is so proud!!!! Family: Definitely, we have changed! Our eating habits, our thinking about family exercise and our focus on health and wellness. And the reward is we have found so much more time together since we started this endeavor. Financial: As my body was in disarray, we had/have let our finances get so out of hand. It was like we just tried to ignore it and wanted the bad stuff to go away. Now, we are transforming our finances at the same time we do the rest of ourselves, mind, body and spirit. It is very difficult to truly take a look at where we are and adjust...just like it has been in all the other areas of our lives...I can't believe we let ourselves get to this point with our monies. Social: I decided early on that you have to make a conscious decision to surround yourself with positive and goal-oriented people, in your family and in your friends. This is so important in the transformation stage I think...it has helped me immensely. There are a couple other areas I need to really think about how changing environmental factors is going to affect me...those are in my work, and since we are remodeling our home...there for sure....I will think of it and add an addendum later. Environment is Important!!! til next time, tim

Purging the invironment...when traveling for my job I got to find a gym either in the hotel or in the area, money has to set aside for gym fee's if there is no gym at the hotel.....My biggest curse is the T.V. I have had to give my T.V. away, I don't own one. I have not had a televition since the O.J. Simpson trials....when I'am on the road if I turn the T.V. on, Iam doomed....I am a T.V. junkie, I love every second of it...the next thing I know it's 3:00 A.M. and I have to be at work...there goes the workout!!! No T.V.!!!!!!

You know, I learned as a youth to avoid tempting environments. Some how the lesson didn't seem to carry into adulthood. I'm greatful for the reminder to purge my environment and to allow temptations in on my terms (free day). CC

Environmental Change already made - Not keeping any junk food in my house or at work. No chocolate, pretzels, etc. This definitely helps me stick to my planned meals. There are no opportunities for unauthorized foods! Another change to make - Not going to certain restaurants unless it is my free day! I feel very torn when I go to a Mexican restaurant on a non-free day. It is so hard to pass up the chips and salsa. So, why torture myself? There are plenty of restaurants that give me lots of authorized options and if I go to the mexican restaurant on a free day, I can have what I want and not feel like I am missing out on something!!

The easiest change for me was eliminating junk food from the house. I replaced those with lots of fresh fruits and veggies. When I feel like I didn’t get enough to eat in one of the 6 meals, I reach for the veggies. This really curbs my cravings. The hardest change was distancing myself from a negative family member. My interactions with her were causing my stress level to stay extremely high, and subsequently I would eat a lot of food to cope. This person was extremely happy when I was overweight. And when I managed to start losing weight, she constantly made negative comments about my weight, such as my stomach still being too flabby or my legs were still too big. She would constantly make comments at family gatherings about my ‘eating habits’ and often said, I would just gain all the weight back. So, enough was enough! We no longer speak.

The first step I have taken in creating a healthy environment is getting rid of junk food and beer in the house. One of the areas that I struggle with when it comes to eating unhealthy doesn't necessarily have to do with whether or not junk food is readily available. For me, it's more along the lines of idle hands. So, I've been trying hard to keep myself busy in the evenings so I don't have any urges. Another step I've taken is finding this site. I know if I have any weak moments, I can hop online and get reinspired by everyone here.

I have tried to limit the unhealthy food choices in our home or asked my husband to bring the junk he gets sometimes to the office with him so I am not tempted to eat it....lets be honest here so I won't eat it! I have made a point of coming here and surrounding myself with people that are going through their own personal transformations, learning through the forums and blogs.

I'm making healthier boundaries with people who aren't healthy for me. I'm going to make sure I have a water bottle with me at all times. I find I don't get enough for my body to function well. Did you know that when you get a headache or feel fuzzy brained, many times its dehydration? So when you get a headache drink water and wait a few min and see..before taking any medication for it. (LOL can't help it...gotta give my 2 cents! )

I am transforming my environment by making sure that I have the food I need and want to eat at work and by eliminating the types of food (even supposedly ok treats such as peanut butter that I have a hard time limiting). another thing I am working on is planning delicious meals ahead so I don't get bored and start to want to graze. I am also spending more time with friends who like to exercise and do outdoor things for fun.

Okay, the change i have made has been that my fiancee and I plan our dinners for the whole week. That way when we go to the supermarket, we buy only that food. It's cheaper and healthier. And the change I am making starting today is, I buy the fun size candy packs to satisfy my chocolate craving. I was eating 2 and 3 sometimes 4 packs a day. They are only 90 calories or so each but add them up and thats the amount in a meal with alot more fat. So I will only buy 1 8 pack for the week and have one a day. I am ready to reinvent myself even further.

The biggest and hardest right environment is the space between my ears. The physical environment doesn't seem to be a factor. I don't seem to have any particular cravings or temptations following BFL - something that hasn't happened on any other program I've tried before. So the family is free to have whatever they like around me - as long as they know, understand and accept that I'm moving in a different direction. We've had a few bumps in that area, but have managed to smooth it out. I suppose one "environment" I did clean ahead of time was to make it known to just about everyone I knew what my intentions were from the very beginning. In times past, I used to try a program but not make very much fanfare about it, so that when it failed (I failed) I didn't have to give many explanations. Being bold, this time, put me on the carpet, and there have been occasions where I got mentally weak about starting a workout, and the scarlet letter of my declaration pushed me through. Finally in terms of the right environment, I'm reminded of a saying I heard once "Show me your friends and I'll show you your life." Part of the right environment is getting on paths that are probably different than your past. We may have eaten alone at times before, but often we ate with people who enjoyed the same foods we did, who liked TV instead of exercise, who often complained about the effects of life, but did very little to change their ways or their environment or help themselves - we learned from each other and that is what got us here. Now we're breaking down those old ways, those old environments and creating new ones. Some of those changes are painful, but all of them are worth it.

Nope, not behind in my assignments, just now posting because this lesson has come to me from 4 different sources over this past week. To me that's a sign that this is an important message that I need to pay attention to! Not that I didn't believe Bill when he told us that basically we should rely on discipline to avoid a wrong choice versus relying on discipline to deal with the choice when it arises... 'cause I'm a Bill-believer, for sure. ;-) This concept though, was a bit of a revelation to me- that avoidance doesn't have to be labeled 'running away' or seen as a weakness. INSTEAD it's a choice and we're exercising our discipline earlier in the process; that is most definitely a STRENGTH. The other sources of this same message?.. an article from Dr. David Jeremiah explains how: " We need to guard against toxix practices. We must avoid toxic places, too." The Bible tells us in Corinthians 15:33 "Evil company corrupts good habits". From a daily message from Rick Warren: "Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. This one time it is okay to run away." Message received; implementation in progress. ;-) ~Annie

One of the things I have done to build a healthy environment is drinking water, and have stopped buying pop. I used to go through a two liter of diet pepsi in a little over a day! I rarely drank water! But now, it's the first thing i have in the morning, and I fill up my water bottle as soon as I get to work. Another thing I can do to build a healthy environment is share this journey with my closest girl friends. Just like the great people in this community, they are some of my biggest supporters. So why not share this with them. Why not draw on their love and support to not only help me, and support me, but maybe, just maybe they will want to do this too! Wouldn't that be great? And not because I think they are out of shape, but because this is food for the soul. I think they would just love all the great folks here, the wonderful environment, and Bill's amazing goal to help us help ourselves. So tomorrow, I am going to invite them to visit this site, visit my profile.

I've made the positive change by getting rid of all junk, all sugar from my cabinets. I do not keep any junk in the house. I also cleaned my cluttered refrigerator. My next step is to clean the kitchen and keep it decluttered so I can feel good about cooking myself healthy meals, have the kitchen be a positive environment where I nourish my mind as well as my body.

I started looking around at my "environment". Sometimes when I was in certain places, I felt uneasy, uncomfortable. a bit of anxiety. As I walk into a room now, I survey it to see what is in there that could cause that. My office, a wreck. My goal over the next two weeks (it'll take that long) is to get all paperwork filed or shredded and everything logged into my accounting program. That alone will be huge. My bedroom, how sad is that! It is a cluttered mess. We have a huge desk in there and it is as bad as my office. Same thing, filed or shredded!, My master bathroom - it was painted dark burgundy and tan. Cluttered, cabinets falling apart, closet, full of clutter. This weekend I repainted it a really pretty sunny yellowish orange faux finish. Wow!! It is bright and cheerful! Now I will get it organized, fix the cabinets, sand and refinish them. That's my start. I am going to make my environment comfortable and HAPPY!

A big environmental thing for me is having water on hand, if it's not there I have noticed that I just go thirsty because I'm trying so hard to steer clear of pop. Another is the early morning prep for breakfast, old habits were to skip it - but now I make sure everything is ready and waiting for the mad dash out the door.

Assignment 7 & 8 really blend together for me: The environmental thing has been really hard for me. Not that I can't stop drinking, but finding things to fill time that don't revolve around the bar, it really is the center of all social things in a small town in midwest Wisconsin. I have just stayed home a lot, like last night, there was a band playing that I liked, but stayed home and read a book instead. However, it is a really lonely time for me. I've been a single mom for 18 years and my son is now at college. My dog was hit by a car in May, so I don't even have her here (not that I would have normally stayed home and hung out with my dog), and I'm not currently dating anyone, so I try to go out and see people whenever I can, or when my friends ask me to go do something, I almost always will (like horseback riding, or I'll call people to go for a walk, etc.)- but I still need to be around people more. I want to meet more people to do healthy, fun things with and have even put that on things like My Space page but have not connected with anyone in the area. So, that's what I'm doing towards the environmental change, continuing to try to find new people to connect with and finding things to do that do not revolve around cocktails.

Assignement 7 & 8 really blend together for me: The environmental thing has been really hard for me. Not that I can't stop drinking, but finding things to fill time that don't revolve around the bar, it really is the center of all social things in a small town in midwest Wisconsin. I have just stayed home a lot, like last night, there was a band playing that I liked, but stayed home and read a book instead. However, it is a really lonely time for me. I've been a single mom for 18 years and my son is now at college. My dog was hit by a car in May, so I don't even have her here (not that I would have normally stayed home and hung out with my dog), and I'm not currently dating anyone, so I try to go out and see people whenever I can, or when my friends ask me to go do something, I almost always will (like horseback riding, or I'll call people to go for a walk, etc.)- but I still need to be around people more. I want to meet more people to do healthy, fun things with and have even put that on things like My Space page but have not connected with anyone in the area. So, that's what I'm doing towards the environmental change, continuing to try to find new people to connect with and finding things to do that do not revolve around cocktails.

I stopped drinking beer and wine, and what made that possible was just not buying it. That was a 6lb decision! I don't particularly care for sugar or sweets...the issue is portion control of the healthy stuff I cook. I'm trying to eat the veggies FIRST...then I hope I'm too full for the rest!

I've gotten my husband to join me which helps so much. Watching him eat all the foods I was craving didn't help me stick to my eating plan. Also, I don't go to the grocery store, except on free day, so that I am not overly temped by the junk food there.

Discipline is not a matter of being “strong-willed enough” to do the right thing in the wrong environment; to me, discipline is what we should utilize to keep us out of the wrong environment to begin with". This is what I am printing out and this will give me the strength to quit smoking! I began this diet and excercise program to change my life so i can live long and be happy and enjoy my family. To quit smoking was one of my goals, and as of yet I have not achieved it. So with the help of these wise words, and yes we are doing acupuncture too, I know I can quit. That and I can honestly say I am ready...ready to no longer smoke! It will not be easy, not eating junk food is easy, lifting the weights over my head, walking until my legs burn so much is easier than not smoking...but I know I can do it and I know I WILL do it!

I know from experience that when it comes to food, if it's not there, I can't eat it. It's that simple....Thank you to all those who shared about cleaning up other environmental aspects of their lives, too - for me the toxic thoughts are the big challenge. It will help to see them in that light. If I don't allow myself to dwell on them, they can't weigh me down.

I was extreme in changing and controlling my environment. My mother lives with me and while she was away caring for a sick friend, I phoned the Salvation Army, had them cart out our couch and replaced it with an Olympic sized weight bench and 310 lbs. worth of weights! It's taken 3 years to get my family to accept that I can't eat like they do and that I must work out or I'll gain weight and feel miserable. Changing my environment meant parting with friends and family that were just too negative about the changes in me to deal with. By the way Bill, thank you so much for changing my life! I've lost 140 lbs. thanks to you and I'm no longer invisible in my own life!

I have made the biggest environmental change thus far in convincing my husband to join me on this transformation journey. This will be his first time ever with any type of eating/exercise regime. In the past, I would say that he was always my biggest obstacle, but now he is just as health conscious as I am and will read labels and "disapprove" of a food as quickly as I do! I know that this will make a huge difference in my overall success with the program. I've also been exercising 6 days a week following the original BFL program for the past 2 1/2 weeks. I am feeling better and my clothes are fitting better already!

If I know the environment I must be in is not as healthy as it should be, then I need to plan accordingly...pack my food, adjust my workout routine as needed but get it done. I am also putting myself in the right environment more often and at the right time, such as hitting the gym before work or just before lunch. I am also spending more time with the Lord seeking his word. I am reaching out to my fitness support group by phone if I am away from my "internet family for more than 3 days" or at least let them know if I will not have access to a system for a while. It's not so much a constant battle as it is a constant distraction. I went to the beach this weekend. It's easy to let the plan go, but I stuck with it. I took ADVANTAGE of my environment by running on the beach and swimming in the ocean. As for food, I stuck with authorized choices and supplemented with shakes and bars. This weekend was a success. The next 2 weeks will be super challenging since I will be out of the country for 2 weeks. I once again must plan and take advantage of my new environment. It will just be different, not bad.

As most here, tossing or not bringing the bad stuff home is very important. For me to add to that, I make sure I don't do the groceries without have eaten a healthy meal. So I can easily resist the temptation. This and having fruits etc around.

I don't keep junk food in the house... but I really haven't for years. I think what is affecting my transformation the most for me right now is that I have my positive affirmations hung all over the house to remind me of what I'm working towards.

A HUGE step that Ive taken is finally "opening myself up" and ASKING for help instead of hiding my head in the sand like an ostrich. Coming to THIS site and recieving such a warm welcome from POSITIVE PEOPLE has been a big step too! One thing I can improve on is preparing & planning my meals ahead of time.

Today I would like to dedicate any progress I make this year to the memory of Jonnae Tayor and to say what an inspiration and a profile in courage Jonnae and her family have been to me. It takes a lot to keep loving someone "Win or Lose". They won the spirt battle as a family.

Hi all, While my better half is on vacation I completed the assignment. Our environment is clear for Tranformation Take off! We are on track and clean of all junk or unhealthy foods.

My official start date is tomorrow but I've already toosed out all my bad eating habits, now planning my meals in advacnce. Not planning and packing food in advance is what has been my downfall in the recent past. No more. I've also made a commitment to myself to be very active in this community so that I am held accountable while helping others along the path as well.

Well-To start off with most all of my time is spent on the road or up in the air on towers,making for the standerd road life.I was always eating fast food drinking soda,just junk food.Now I pack up snacks that are healthy to take on the road with me and I make sure to stop and eat at the right times.At lunch and dinner I always look for the heathy choice to eat.Now all I drink is water and protein drinks and on a very rare occasion I might treat my self to a rootbeer.I have really noticed that my diet is a major factor in my health and getting into shape. As far as furthering my success I continue to move forward open minded,trying to learn from others and grow.I have taken your advise and told others of what I am trying to do and have had a good response. Thank you

Preparing your environment with the right choices makes all the difference. It's easy when your life follows your daily routine or agenda...however life gets in the way, things don't always go as planned. Thats when it's easy to fold and eat the junk but if it's not inthe house, not an option then you can take a deep breath, remind yourself of your goal and take the time to get it right.

I use to work through my lunch hour at work. Now I dedicate my lunch hour to working out. This "change of environment" has helped reduce my stress level tremendously. If I have a luncheon for work or another responsibility to take care of -- I use vacation time to fit my work out in. This enables me to seek God in the early hours, and spend quality time with my family in the evenings. What environmental change can I introduce to support my progress for this transformation? Identifying some photos (that reinforce the physical transformation I'm going to achieve) and placing them where I will see them on a daily basis will give me that extra "push" that I need to excel.

Bill, Good one I was drinking about 8 can coke a day.So I made a change, now I'm drinking at least 10 cups of water and only 1 coke a day. Room for improvement yet. I don't wacth much t.v. at all any more, I traded it for reading and it's making a big difference.Junk food isin't a problem for me ,I don't eat hardly any. See I'm triing to gain a little healthy weight. Jerryb

This is HUGE!

Hi Bill, I too have found that I cannot control those in my family and what they choose to bring in the house. So..... instead of indulging with them I will go read a book in another room or soak in a nice hot bath while they eat whatever junk food they are indulging in. That way I don't see it so I don't want it. I then feel so proad of myself. I have taken my entire home environment very seriously since starting this challenge and Have thus redecorated almost every toom in my house. Each room is peacefful and warm and inviting. We don't worry about TV distraction as we have not had TV in our home for over 12 years. What I can do tommorrow is finish getting rid of clutter in some areas of my home. This help my mind be calmer and more able to relax. I will also move my meditation outside. Closer to nature and all that God has created. Annissa

wow This challenge is getting deeper and closer to home for me. I have just made a huge environmental change in who was on my so called friend list that brought me down instead of helping me to be my positive self. I can get depressed all by myself I sure don't need to be around people that say they are my friend and always bring me down. Also I have forgiven a few people that I didn't think I honestly had it in me to forgive. I thought forgiving was just a way of saying I'm sorry but continued to dell on the situation, I realize now that I can't honestly forgive unless I also forget the situation. I am learning to ;et go of the hurt and forgive, forget and move on. So many aspects of my life is changing for the better with my family, mainly my daughter. Things are so different all because I realized I had to change. GET*HER*DONE LINDA

One change I have made is in my music. I like all types of music; Jack Johnson to Pantera. But I have found that when I listen to heavy metal that my stress leval goes up (I'm keyed up when I listen). So I have really limited the type of music I listen to. If I can help my stress and recovery by enhancing my mood with music, then thats the plan!

My environment: When I accepted Christ many years ago my life went through a radical makeover. I gave up smoking, drinking, and long nights out on the town. I had children and gained weight and due to some medical issues I was on pain medication all the time. I thought my environment was clean, my kids tell me they don’t understand why I am over weight. I cook plain boring chicken breasts all the time and drink a gallon of water a day. I thought I was active and sporadically participated in exercise classes and stood on my feet all day. I have been on a diet for 20 years! Today, I attend church, Bible study, go to the gym regularly to train my body and visit the Transformation site as often as I am able. I use the EFL recipes and have added many spices to my meals. I have replaced dieting with healthy eating. My biggest environmental clean up is much less popcorn, I love hot fresh buttered popcorn- nightly, but not any more now I save it for my free day. I put my popcorn maker in the garage and I don’t have any kernels in the house. In the past couple of days I started on my next environmental clean up- my house-it’s toxic with all the clutter. I don’t want or need it; it is draining to see so much stuff.

It is amazing how you are encouraging us to change our environment in order to succeed in our transformation. Since starting this challenge, I have been working from the inside out trying to figure out the source of the discontent and unhappy life I was living. One of the reasons I found was the negative work environment I was involved. Once I identified it, it was clear to me I needed to move forward. One of the biggest environmental changes I have done in the past few weeks of my transformation was to change my work environment. In addition, I also implemented and started surrounding myself with new positive environments such as church, gym, and specially the transformation community. I have received an incredible amount of support from people on this site, and I believe that together we can help each other achieve our goals and be the change. Another environmental change that I can practice is to continue to connect with positive, spiritual, kind, healthy, and happy people.

My biggest environmental change I have made since starting my Transformation is flocking around people who support healthy living. Example...positive healthy people, at the gym, church, my dd's swiim team, etc. The most positive environmental change I am focusing on right now is routine. Actually a complete routine; From the time I open my eyes till I close them again. I have realized that fitting everyting in into a day cannot be done with a positive outlook IF a routine is not established. Yes, I may get everything accomplished but is it accomplished with pure joy or just squnched in to say, "CHECK, I've done it!" I feel this is one aspect that needs to be strengthened in my life for a total transformation that stays just that....transformed.

A couple of my environmental changes is for me not to keep cash in my purse. I won't be tempted to have a "quick" drive thru snack on my way to work. I am safe with no cash becasue I won't be tempted with my debit card otherwise my husband would see that I cheated. Also, at work I stock the TOP of my desk not in a drawer with grapes, carrots, celery, almonds, water bottles etc. This way I look at the food during my entire eight hour shift and grab a healthy snack. The change I am going to make in my environment TODAY is to start preparing recipes that are a little more complicated and not so boring (I can only eat so many chicken breats) - I will try different spices/seasonings and make sure I put the finished food in the individual serving sizes right away so I can pack my lunch quickly and KNOW I am in charge of what I put in my mouth. I am sure I have a long ways to go in more environmental changes and will keep thinking of other ways as well.

Hey Bill, Thank you so much for the words of wisdom. I have to say one thing I find myself self doing more of is drinking lots of water! which is excellent:)! Sprite soda was my best friend, so what I did was stock my house with tons of water and I limited the soda. I have to keep reminding myself to take my transformation proccess one day at a time. Thanks Jay

This is so huge for me. I have managed to avoided the sodas in my house and stick with water and limiting my television time to no more than 2 hours a day. I love TV. ~Nikki

I live in a home with some adult sugar addicts and so throwing out all the junk food isn't an option for me. However, I have designated one cubboard for the non-refrigerated junk food and on the front of that cubboard on a sticky note I wrote a quote from Champions,Body-For-Life, "NOTHING tastes as good as thin feels." When I read it I see myself as a successful champion and all temptation pales in comparison to my goal. By the way, though the rest of the family has not given up their sweet tooth, they have become a lot more conscious about what they eat and are making better choices, most of the time. ;-) Another way I have controlled my environment has been to keep connected to this site. The daily support and inspiration I receive here has been invaluable. My goal for improving my environment is to only listen to those thoughts that support the new and transformed me. I will no longer listen to negative, self talk and will affirm to myself the champion I am destined to be. My desire is that we may all BE in our own minds the champions we are destined to BE and therefor we will DO what all champions DO that we may all HAVE what Champions HAVE--Health, Happiness, Peace, and Joy!

It's been a very interesting journey for me. Once I saw my "before" picture, I was struck by the sadness of the woman in that picture. When I've gotten frustrated, I think of that woman, the woman I was and do not know. That has kept my focussed. Something shifted for me. The woman in that photo deserves more and deserves to be treated better than I've been treating her. So far, 31 days in, no cravings. I have been able to pass the vending machine at work and not blink. I am determined to change my life and not look back. I believe scheduling the times of day I'm going to have my meals has helped tremendously. I'm trying to never let myself go past the 3 hours mark or I get too hungry and open myself up for failure. Forward march!

I'm actually amazed how not so painful giving up my favourite snack was. I love crisps (potatoe chips in America) and so do all my family. Every weekly shopping basket would have a bumper 24 pack in it. That has stopped. Now if the teenagers want a bag of crisps i am happy to say 'there's some money you can walk to the local shop and buy a bag for yourself', i could argue with them to stop eating junk too but hey! these are teenagers i'm talking about, i can be forgiven for alittle bit of an easier life. You never know they might be inspired when they witness my transformation. So now my fruit bowl is standing big and proud in my kitchen and i am choosing to snack on fruit and enjoying it. The fruit is actually eaten before it starts to rot---that's a first.

Well, as usual, God's timing is perfect. I have 27 days left of the BFL challenge and the last four weeks have not been good. At first I had what I thought was a legit excuse to take a few days off - grandkids in the house, then traveling for business, more grandkids - it turned from a few days to a few weeks. So the last couple of days I've felt like a fat pig who can't get her little piglets in a row. Not a good thing. And part of it is, as Bill says, environment. My house was clear, then I bought junk "for the kids". To my credit, it's not all gone (i.e. I didn't pig out on it), but I did enough damage to bring my progress to a screeching halt. I must, I can, I WILL keep my physical environment clean. Oh, and also the other environment - the mental one - the one that beats us up with every perceived failure. I must, I can and I WILL keep my mental environme nt free of junk and filled with clean, encouraging thoughts! Thanks, Bill for a great lesson!

Ok, so here's the deal. I do great all day, but when I let my dogs out during the night, I get grabby. I reach for all the ugly food I have avoided during the day. The easier the better because, well, I'm half asleep. The solution was to either eliminate the dogs, or the junk food. The dogs are now gone. Just kidding, but the junk food is! Now my nocturnal choices are water or fruit. Neither one sounds all that great at that time of night. So I am learning to get through the nights knowing I won't die without a snack!

The most important change I have made to my environment so far is to write a few things down and post them in my bathroom and bedroom. "Respect you spouse" and "Pay attention." I have noticed a big difference in how I am treating my wife and child and amazing enough how my wife is treating me. For the future I am going to work on the junk food. With a 3 year old and 12 year old I am going to have to be creative. I have not been 100% good on the eating yet. Now that I have things set in motion for how I act I will focus more on proper eating.

How we react to our external environment will create us. Since starting this challenge I have removed all junk food and alcohol from my house. Knowing that the simple removal of junk food and alcohol only treats the symptoms I focus more effort on changing my reaction to the environment and empowering myself. I cannot control the environment outside my home but I can determine my reaction to it. To develop my growth I start my day by visualizing in detail my new life, then again in the afternoon and once more before going to bed. Visualization is my key “environmental change” in that is shapes my reaction to the environment. Most people don’t like change, me included. However, I will openly accept personal growth. That is really what this is all about for me NOT change but growth. I can change a few paint sizes by changing my environment but if I look deeper for the opportunities of personal growth along the way then I will make a transformation.

Bill - great point. I have eaten clean now for over 4 weeks. Typically I eat the same thing up till dinner. I vary my dinners a bit, but I have made some wonderful chocolate mouse with milk, shake mix, and fat free sugar free instant pudding that totally eliminates my cravings for sweets at night. I have also learned to keep TOXIC thought away from me. They could come from outside sources or within. I better off that way. But thank you for everything you are doing here and to all the people who participate and encourage others.

This is a great lessen Bill. The environment around us has a huge impact. I remember the day I took all the junk food out of the house. It was after I read the BFL book. Man did I have some junk in that pantry. Stuff I thought was good stuff. You know the fat free, low fat, health food that’s out there. Well, I pitch the lot, told my wife I was taking over the shopping duties. Wow, did she ever fight me for that, she didn’t even argue. Told her I was taking over the cooking duties as well. Bout time she said, the only reason I have a kitchen is that it came with the house. You could say ate out a lot. Another change I made was that I started hanging around at the YMCA. You know the kind of motley crew that hangs around those places. Following the routines in the BFL book, I was working out three times a week and cardio three times a week. I tried to start running with the YMCA running club but soon found that they were animals. I’ll have to give myself a little time with the new and improved self before I start hanging with those adrenaline junkies…. So I’ve defined the food and I’m hanging with a like group of people that share the active lifestyle. With that I’ve added a huge portion of the outdoors. I’m spending more time with self and strengthening my spirit. With a new diet full of nutritious food and good exercise I have a new zest for life. When you’re running a couple of miles it amazing what you can contemplate what you can break down and simplify. When I’m paddling in the surf my spirit soars. I thank God for the beauty, for all things natural. As my body becomes strong so has my spirit. I’m back at the beach surfing. I’m back in the water swimming and diving. I’m out on the water sailing. It has truly been an awakening. Bill I think you have something with this transformation thing; you should do something with this…. Thanks for all your help. Seacrow34

This blog came just in time. There are birthday cupcakes in my kitchen at this very moment that have seriously been calling my name all morning. I am going to throw them in the trash as soon as I finish this comment. My environment is a HUGE influence on me. One thing I have already done is to try to buy lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to have on hand. I prepare them ahead so they are easy to grab.

I, like you Bill make sure I don't have junk food in my house. 98% of everything in my home is organic, sprouted, fresh or frozen. My free day I buy in moderation the junk food. I need to get my accounitng office out of my home. It is a major distraction for working out, spending time in prayer and spending time with my husband. I WORK too much. It controls my life. I literally climb out of bed at 5:00 a.m and go straight to my desk and work until 10:00 or 11:00 at night. This is a major transformation area for me. Instead of over eating I over work.

The biggest most improved change for me is NO JUNK FOOD....I used to buy junk for the kids and in the past i would eventually eat THE WHOLE BOX all myself...The kids didnt even get any..HAHAHa...GROSS !....That was terrible....Now i buy junk only on my freeday..I DONT by a box of junk anymore I only buy 1 small individual pkg.....1serving .......I am trying to improve on not drinking SODA...Diet Pepsi is my weakness...But i am getting better...2 a day is what i am down to...I would love to omitt this habit permanently......be blessed not depressed, fancy face

I could ditto most of the above comments. A few drastic changes for me. 1. I cook only enough for the meal and leftovers for lunch the next day. 2. On my free day, I'm beginning to just eat more of my cravings like lots of bran/flax cereal or fruits. I'm starting to crave nutritious foods. 3. If I crave the chocolate I throw it away and don't feel guilty about wasting it in the trash. Most junk food disgusts me, because the fat content actually makes me sick the next day. 4. All my children like the recipes, so the food in my house is healthy. 5. I'm more physically active with my children. I prefer games and being outdoors to sitting and letting the TV suck my brain (as my sister says,"being a raisin head") A change I can make today is to eat more regularly. I have a hard time especially on non-work days to let time get away and go for 3-4 hours between meals and then only get 5 meals in. Then the next morning being overly hungry at my workout. Thanks for the great challenges. kennie

Well the first change for me is NO MORE JUNK FOOD WHEN I SHOP which helps me at home because when I am at home I have only goods things to eat and the second thing that I can do is to get rid of my FAT close because I have been keeping them as a catch in case this doesn't work. All that does is set me up for failure. A side note for everyone is I have turned my bathroom into my Positive room because I have been postering the wall with only positive messages so I can start my day right. If you have anything that works well for you please post it on my page so I can add you to my wall of hope. May your day transform others around you~

Yesterday I decided that I am not going to let life slip past me. I saw what I never want to see again and that is life lost in a instance. this challenge is not just about me it is about saving someone in the process. Making better decisions and helpping others to make life long healthy decisions so that they will be here for a long time to come.

An enviromental change that I have made so far is I have been watching less television and focusing more on my kids. I use to come home and heat up a pizza and sit in front of the T.V. for hours and since doing this competition I have found it amazing that I come home and I want to pick up my two little babaies and play with them for hours. I never would take them to the park or on a walk and now I look forward to doing those types of activities. I bought my "little bear" a set of his own little golf clubs so we can hit wiffle balls in our front yard. This challenge up to this point has made me look at and love the little things in life that I use to pass up. What environmental factor can I change today that will help with my success? It is what you talked about Mr. Phillips and that is getting rid of the foods on your free day after you have had them. I have a cupboard that is full of our treats and it is my free day haven. I do during the week will open up the cupboard and sneek an Oreo here and there and it has a mental strain on my day, like I have cheated myself. I am getting further in this challenge and I need every step to align just right so today after work I am cleaning the cupboard

About 2 years ago I took a new position at a new company and I soon found out the managment responsibilities were overwhelming. I was not able to set enough time aside for myself. I got to the point that I knew I could not last any longer without taking time to exercise, relax and have private time, so I made a career change so that my "environment" was condusive to the lifestyle I needed to get back to. Now, after months of worry I am carefree, fitter, happier and envolved in my own life so much more. My next move is to steady my work schedule more so that my existing "environment" will have more workout time consistency. I know the time of day, follow through and habits all wrapped up in my exercise program are very important to my success. This week I am going to "condition my environment" more to encompass this need.

The first thing I've done is cooked the right portion size. I usually cooked enough to feed an army, now there are no left overs. We all eat our portion and that is it. Also, I've been "stuffing" myself with inspirational, spiritual books. Also, I make sure before I go to bed...some type of physical activity was done on that day. Another thing, I don't drink all the diet coke I use to, ok. ONE a day, but now the rest of the day it's water or crystal lite. When one's mindset is right.....the rest of the world is right!

Mr. Phillips I will follow every instruction tou give, unless its breaking the LAW lol ! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and wisdom

I've change my environment by not going to bed on a day without exercising. I made it a priority in the last 3 weeks. I've learned to enjoy exercise by thinking that I'm priviliged by having the time to take care of my body and to get to know my own body. One of the things that I need to change in my environment in the near future, will be going to bed earlier. I have a full time, very demanding job plus three kids. It consumes my entire day and when I least expected it's close to midnight... It takes longer now that I have to cook dinner as soon as I get home, but that's the only way that my family and I can have a healthy meal... I'll learn to better manage my time as this transformation continues.

Bill, this is such a great reflective lesson. When I look at the times I have struggled it is usually an environmental issue. Some of the changes I have made: Instead of watching TV until I fall asleep, I have started reading inspirational books or ones that have been on my "to read" list for years. I have stopped buying bags of potato chips for the kids and encourage them to try my BFL meals whenever possible. I don't keep any alcoholic beverages in the garage fridge anymore. It was always tempting to have a glass of wine while relaxing on a quite summer night. Now it is stocked with water. I store my exercise mat at the foot of my bed instead of underneath. I remember to stretch before I workout that way. Even though I am not working except for one day a week in the summer, I am still getting up at 5:30 am to do my workouts because that is the time I will need to do them when school is back in session, only three weeks away!

Within the last year I have started watching more and more television. Since starting the my transformation I have stopped watching television, except for the occasional news broadcast when I want to catch up on current events. I realized if I started watching I would get stuck in front of the television for at least four hours. Nothing positive was coming out if this activity. Now when I get the urge to watch I go outside. If need be I get in my car and head to a park or a public place. This really helps. The other change I am making today is planning ahead for the week. If I do this I know I am well prepared for the week and it keeps me from making excuses when something comes up. If a friend calls and wants to get together I tell them when I have to eat and then we both can plan around. Rather than skip a meal or be forced into making an unhealthy meal choice.

About this Transformation Lesson #7. I will now toss everything unhealthy out after my Free Day or if we have a party or people over. I have a huge problem about throwing away food, but I know it's only a "mind" thing, something that I was taught as a child. Usually I try to get someone else to eat it, mostly my son, I ask him to finish the icecream or the cookies. Crazy! It's not good for me, and its not good for him. Why do I even ask him to do something that unhealthy? So from today, I will really throw it away, it's a promise. :)

This is amazing! Today I was cleaning out old junk from our apartment, and found this very old magazine and just happened to read this small letter in the magazine. It was about "being in the right environment" and I thought that I should share this here on Transformation. The first thing I see when I log in, is this "THE POWER OF RIGHT ENVIRONMENTS" Funny, huh? And I had several of these kind of "coincidences" this week :) OK, it's not the same as this transformation lesson #7, but it's related and it has a good point, so here I go: This lady in her 60s is about to move from one house, to another house in another city. She has a lot of things and a lot of furnitures, and she finds this old chest of drawers in her attic. She hasn't been using it for ages and its old and damaged, and really out of style. She almost throws it out, but then changes her mind, maybe she can paint it in a bright color and her grandchildren can use it for their toys. She moves to the new house and there is boxes and stuff everywhere, so she starts to clean out the hallway. She moves everything out, when she is almost done, there is only this old chest of drawers in the hallway left. And now she sees it in a different light, a different perspective. It looks just perfect to the new purple wallpapers and the dark wooden floor. The damage surface looks suddenly nice like an expensive antique, and the style and color is perfect to that room. It was like it was meant to be there, and she didn't have to repaint it or do anything. Now she keeps that chest of drawers in the hallway and its the first thing you see when you open the entry door. So the point with this story is: If you feel like "you are old, damaged, out of style, and has lost your color" :) - You are in the wrong environment!! Change your environment and you will be beautiful and shine!