IOWL on a Short Break
Inside Out Weight Loss is on a short break, but will resume weekly episodes very soon.
We had some technical problems with episodes 63 and 64 which means I have to re-record them, and I’m taking a short break to re-center before I do.
In the meantime, I suggest you go back to the beginning and start again from there. There is a progression to this journey that sometimes is revealed in layers. And, you have 62 episodes to enjoy again! There’s a link to the right of this post to the show.
I will continue to post here on the blog anything that I think might be of interest. In fact, I have a few inspiring stories from listeners I will post shortly.
Blessings,
Renee
chansonellensky said,
February 10, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
Have a good rest, Renee. Lord knows you deserve it. Besides, you’ve got so many wonderful podcasts stored up that starting them over is a great idea.
Gailmichael said,
February 17, 2009 @ 6:14 pm
Thank you Renee!!!
I have struggled with my weight all my adult life. A few years ago I lost 23kg (50 pound in your ‘money’) and reached my goal weight, through WW).
However, maintaining it was a constant struggle. I realise now that I was sabotaging my good work by ‘relaxing’ my diet on weekends. I continued for two years then very quickly gained 7 kg (about 16 lb), which seemed to settle in for good.
I have been listening to IOWL for about 6 weeks now… and I finally get it!!
I now realise that I must look at the long term effects of “treats” and overeating. I now eat until ‘hata hatchi gu’ (is this right?) and have lost most of this weight.
I am confident that I can be naturally slender, easily, for life. I am also now happier, calmer and more content with life in general.
Thanks and keep up the great work.
Gail
minna said,
February 18, 2009 @ 1:34 pm
I have enjoyed your podcasts for months now, and keep listening over and again. I keep hearing new things, and have passed the link on to my fellow bloggers on a weight loss site I belong to. I particularly remind myself of the concept of kaizen when I find myself observing a “pass/fail” diet mentality. I continue to struggle with the obstacle in my path that is ME. Oh, well. Keep up the good work!
ssan_com said,
February 19, 2009 @ 10:44 am
After reading the wife swap controversy and then viewing the utube video, I decided to view your program primarily because you changed the mindset of the other family. I have lived in the south my entire life, leaving to attend University in Michigan. It is almost impossible to change a southern mindset; your two-week accomplishment deserves applause.
I look forward to listening to your pod cast while you take hopefully a short sabbatical.
I do hope you look at this incident in a positive manner; your behavior was not reflective of your husband’s bad manners. Your dedication and skills in helping individuals get control of their body in a healthy way will surpass any negativity.
kahedi4 said,
February 20, 2009 @ 7:40 pm
Hi Renee, I just wanted you to know I posted this on some sites. I’m so sorry that you and your family are going through this. Just remember this to shall pass. This is what I wrote. I wanted you to see it so you know that there are people who aren’t like what other people are acting like.
Yes I would like to say something. This man Stephen did act very badly no doubt. But on the other hand Americans reaction to this is no better.
I’m not saying that what has been written about him should not have been written. But egging the mans house, death threats, and such. We are AMERICANS people. This behavior is how wars were started.
To show your bigger then the person with the insults, you walk away. That’s what Jesus would of done. Stop already, I’m sure he’s learned his lesson. Plus think of how his KIDS and wife, must feel. It’s not there fault that this happened.
Gayle, I’m sorry the way you were treated it was wrong. I too am from Missouri. You were the bigger person to walk away. Please people enough, let it go.
If not for the human side of it, then for your spiritual side of it. Thanks for listening, God Bless all of you. Including Stephen and his family
Matt Buresh said,
February 20, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
What a disgusting so-called Man you have! I’m sorry for his foolish behavior. He WILL have to answer to God one day and with his “in-your-face I’m so much better than you” attitude, he will not be allowed to enjoy eternal Bliss in Heaven. SHAME ON YOU FOR MARRYING SUCH A FOOL!!!!! How dare you make your kids do whatever you want. THEY ARE PEOPLE TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You type of people make us REAL AMERICANS SICK!!! How dare you think your so much better than everyone else! Boy, if I ever saw you husband, I would beat him to a bloody-pulp and laugh in his face like he did to that poor woman after calling her names. What a PUNK! And your the sorry fool who married him. Guarantee you he has had mulitple affairs on you. He seriously thinks he probably deserves it too. SHAME ON YOU BOTH!!! I wish you HORRIBLE THINGS TO COME IN THE FUTURE
beezeyob said,
February 22, 2009 @ 10:21 am
I found my way to your site only because of the wife swap controversy, which, btw, I find highly blown out of proportion. I’ve registered and now think I will stay a while and learn! My message to both you and your husband (and I am from the real deep south): hang in there, next week there will be someone else to blast and this will all be a bad memory!
mzmercury said,
February 22, 2009 @ 11:21 am
I also found this podcast and blog via an article about the Wife Swap show. I don’t watch “reality” shows because I know they are far from it. I have already learned much from the first few podcasts and am looking forward to the journey with the yahoo group and possibly some group coaching with Renee. Through this adversity may your husband find opportunity for personal growth and may you find a wider audience for your message. Hope to see you back soon Renee!!
TJA said,
February 22, 2009 @ 2:31 pm
This entire episode (in your lives and the show itself) is a grand opportunity in the scheme of things to see what is missing and figure out how to fix it. I pray it can be used as a catalyst to develop character in each of you and help you and your husband embrace with gratitude what is RIGHT about your lives. Two beautiful healthy children, first of all. Then as far as his mocking, immature behavior and criticism I would say it’s a great time to help him uncover the roots of what was sown into him that made him for even a second feel that his actions were acceptable. He must be very insecure and missed learning humility in his very privileged life. When we are blessed with the ability to travel, live in a lovely home, educate our children, meet many different people and learn about other cultures…with that should come an underlying gratitude. That gratitude can be sensed by others and help transform lives. In Stephen’s childhood there must have been much criticism that spilled over. So you are in my prayers as you seek to learn all you can from this and move on. It’s a great thing when God loves us enough for horrible things like this to come in, because change is needed so greatly. It is difficult, but this too shall pass and moving forward this might be just what it took for all that unrefined character to be revealed and to be healed. If so, many will benefit. Starting with your household and then beyond. It can all be worth it…if indeed it is used to bring Stephen to a better place. But caring for the earth more that other people…well that was not an attractive sight at all…I am sorry you are going through this, you did not make those choices and your passion is clear. So maintain that passion, continue to be authentic and encourage your husband to do along with you. Hypocrisy, double standards, posing for the elite…it is all transparent and he will be better for dealing with the root of these things. One helpful thing would be for him to forgive whomever marinated him in criticism so he can heal.
Also, he should ask the children’s forgiveness for his example to them that it’s ever okay to treat others as “less thans.” It can make them elitist and unkind too, so the first humbling needs to be with them. Best to you on this very public humiliating journey. One day, not too far from now, I pray that Stephen can say that he indeed learned enough to change him forever. In a way that makes others examine themselves and see that they too need change. Desperately. We all do. It’s a journey. Blessings on yours.
FstephenF said,
February 22, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
I understand you do not agree with how your husband acted but is that because your business began to die once they found out how ignorant your family was. You do not allow your kids to even have friends play at you WONDERFUL house, you do not care about your childrens self esteem or how they feel and we are supposed to come onto a blog and gain advice from you….? I think you should take some advice from all of us; Your kid’s want to have fun. You can be smart and have fun. Tell your husband to move back to London because as a San Fransico citizen I am telling you we do not want him her and honestly London does not want him either. Since, I make as much if not more money as your family does and since I live in a bigger house then you will you listen to me…? MONEY DOES NOT MAKE YOU BETTER THEN ANYONE NOR DOES A HIGH EDUCATION, BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW SMART YOUR KIDS ARE IF THEY ACT LIKE YOUR HUSBAND THEY WILL LIVE BROKE EVEN IF THEY HAVE MONEY THEY WILL BE WORKING OUT OF A HOME OFFICE WITH NO FRIENDS BECAUSE NO ONE CAN STAND TO BE AROUND THEM. Once your kid’s see how he acted he better be ready to write a letter of apology to them not us because as a country we do not care. One more note this blog and your husbands business will be listed on my blog as something for my clients to stay far far away from.
Renee - You are a wonderful person but association is sometimes overwhelmed with guilt and you cannot convince me you care one single bit about how your husband acted you just do not want to loose your great “Life Coach” title
eilestaw24 said,
February 23, 2009 @ 3:46 am
Dear Renee,
I miss your podcasts, but I am so glad to read that you are indeed coming back soon. I am going back and listening to old podcasts a lot right now. It is so helpful to review things-it is amazing how many of the important little details I have forgotten, like “persistence, patience, and practice”, and last year’s new year’s podcast about “what can I give up in order to make space in my life for new things?” It is all such great stuff. I, WE, are truly, truly blessed that you have decided to give us your spirit and light. Thank you, thank you, thank you. To me, you are like a modern, timely, and useful version of a preacher-because your messages are really totally connected with spiritualism and religion (whatever religion a person is-your messages fit), AND because your messages are pertinent to NOW, today, to the things we deal with in our modern society. I love the concept of changing the world from within ourselves-starting with ourselves. As you say, “what would it be like if everyone worked on themselves and their own happiness before they went out and tried to do things to other people?” It is so true! And when you give your “sermons,” it is not so much the message that is so revolutionary, but the WAY YOU GIVE THE MESSAGE. You truly have a gift, to use a cliche, and a special talent at bringing the truth to life. Your podcasts have really changed my life. I have lost over 24 pounds since I started listening last year in April! I want to lose 13 more pounds, and I plan to do this with your help, so please keep doing this work! You are such a help to me, in releasing weight and in my life in general, because truly, in order to release the weight I have had to change my thinking, and I still have some work to do in this area. I still am sometimes to self critical, and I have trouble changing my limiting beliefs sufficiently. But I have made tremendous progress, and I have noticed the results in ALL areas of my life, and I see the world in a much, much more positive way now. Well, that is all for now. Sorry to go on and on-I am a bit wordy. I just love your show, and I have been meaning to write to you about it for awhile now-just been too busy (writing my doctoral thesis in opera). By the way, I am an opera singer, and you have a GREAT, GREAT, APPEALING, extremely professional-sounding voice, one that I am certain could sing beautifully if you wanted. If you ever need any speaking tips to preserve it, let me know-I would be more than happy to advise you (but I am sure you have enough help with this).
Take care
love and light
Eileen
99problemsbutyourmomaintone said,
February 24, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
Please, please, please resume your podcasts soon! Our iPods need your sonic compassion for the overweight masses! I’m so disappointed, I’m doing that “shake off all the negative fat energy” dance you did on that show you hate. No joke.
mcdmda said,
February 24, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
I left a positive comment, with some constructive criticism/suggestions on Feb 18, but you deleted it. Now there are comments that are negative. I can only assume that you really are taking a break, which is good. I also read that your site was temporarily defaced. The initial outrage, I felt, was justified, but it did get blown way out of proportion. It seemed to be petering out, but now it’s getting resurrected by news coverage about the outrage (and excessive outrage). We have become a society that feeds on sensationalism and negative stories. I’ll admit that I am one of them (why else would I be here). I find shows like Cops and others, especially ones where they show the many devious ways drivers try to escape from police, resulting in wild video footage and often tragic results.
I just hope there is peace in your life soon and this whole thing blows over (like I thought it did, after the news of more woes for the economy, ‘bad’ news and the obviously disproportionate outrage to some incidents, like the chimp cartoon in New York Post).
This will fade over time, but will never go away completely, at least not within your own lives, and especially the lives of your children as they grow older. It may have positive results for them in terms of their approach to the world and the people around them. But they may, possibly, also have a lot of bitterness over what they had to go through as a result of their parents’ (mostly father’s) behavior on a TV show where they should not have appeared if they were as smart as they were intelligent, let alone showing restraint in behavior while the world may be watching on TV.
I hope this heals soon, and wish you and your family all the best.
saved1221 said,
February 24, 2009 @ 7:27 pm
renee,
i just started listening to ur podcast yesterday– i was checking out random sites at itunes and stumbled across Inside Out. I’m already listening to the 12th episode, and I found the dreaming exercise to be extremely helpful. My story is very similar to the one that u shared in the prologue…i feel that we’re coming from the same place and even just in that simple fact, I hear a comfort from ur voice…it actually sent me off to dreamland^__^ cuz it took me to such a peaceful place~~~i feel really lucky to have found the resources that ur giving all of us~~i hope that God could use me in a special way to help others the way He’s lead u to thus far~~thank u^__^
love,
liz
livelife said,
February 25, 2009 @ 12:13 am
There was a heartbreaking article in San Jose Mercury news on 2/19/2009 about a 13 year old girl of American Indian descent who was tortured about going to school because of her weight problem. She missed school so many times her parents are being put in jail. The family isn’t rich. I was just wondering if there was something you could do to make things better in this situation. The girl is really suffering and has no where to turn. It would be an unbelieveable happy ending if somebody could do something to help…I don’t know if you do pro-bono..but there are some people who really need you…
Contact Tracey Kaplan at tkaplan@mercurynews.com or (408) 278-3482.
This is the article:
San Jose dad in jail — and mom’s on the way — for 13-year-old girl’s chronic truancy
It started back in third grade with polite letters from the school principal to the East San Jose couple: Your daughter has had a series of unexcused absences; please contact us. Back then, Carol Reynoso and Jayvee Geronimo’s youngest attended school about 80 percent of the time.
But the effort by the Alum Rock Union School District ended in a far less gentle way recently after Vanessa Geronimo’s attendance in sixth and seventh grades dwindled to only two or three days a year. Her parents have been convicted of contributing to the delinquency of their now-13-year-old daughter by letting her be habitually truant, and were ordered to serve 50 days each in county jail. Geronimo is already in Elmwood; when he’s released in mid-March, Reynoso goes behind bars.
It is the first time in five years that a truancy case in Santa Clara County has resulted in a parent’s incarceration — and the only time that both parents have been sentenced to jail.
Now, Vanessa said she’s willing to do anything if only the court would spare
her mother from jail, including face her worst fear — school.
“I’m willing to really try this time, to go to school,” said Vanessa, whose family says she was mercilessly teased about her weight. “I know I’ve said that before, but I mean it.”
In between the first polite letters and the unusual jail sentence, court records show the Alum Rock school district and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
tried hard to help the family overcome whatever it was that kept Vanessa home.
Parent conferences. Home visits. Intervention by the district’s special Student Attendance Review Board, which offered the family medical and mental health assistance. A chance to work with prosecutors and avoid jail.
‘Fifth-grade dropout’
“It’s tragic,” said Deputy District Attorney Lois Baer, who prosecuted the case. “But she’s essentially a fifth-grade dropout, and the parents haven’t followed through at all.”
The school district couldn’t comment because of privacy concerns. But brief interviews with the family and a review of the court record shed light on the way the system deals with chronic truancy — and, in this case, the difficult path to a conviction.
Under state law, all children ages 6 through 18 must attend school. The district attorney’s office prosecutes parents until truants either reach the last years of middle school or enter high school, depending on the case. Once children are in high school, Baer said, she charges them directly.
California’s dropout rate is estimated at an astronomical 24 percent, so it’s clear school districts and prosecutors don’t have the resources to enforce the law in every case. Baer said she prosecutes about 1,500 high school students a year and about 50 cases against parents.
In the mid-1990s, Baer pioneered a program for parents of young truants that’s been replicated around the state. Parents plead guilty to an infraction rather than the misdemeanor delinquency charge and don’t face jail unless they fail to comply. Instead, the court closely monitors their children’s attendance.
“Jail is an extreme last resort,” said San Jose police Capt. Louis Quezada, who runs the force’s Truancy Abatement and Burglary Suppression Team. “Sometimes the DA has no option. We’re talking about people who’ve been given every opportunity.”
Vanessa’s sister Jaylyan, 17, says her little sister’s difficulty facing school started back in kindergarten when the other kids relentlessly teased her for being overweight, and Vanessa would dissolve into tears. Her father and grandfather, both of whom are not slim, can’t understand why Vanessa found that devastating.
“I told her, there are a lot of big kids in school,” said her grandfather, Rudolfo Geronimo.
It quickly got to the point where Vanessa could barely make it through a school day.
“We take her to school and she’d be crying and crying in class and get sent to the principal’s office,” said her mom, Carol Reynoso. “She has blackouts. She forgets where she’s at. She gets panic attacks when she’s around a lot of people. She can’t be alone. She’s not right.”
Reynoso said she started sleeping on the floor of Vanessa’s bedroom every night to soothe her fears. They keep the mirror covered up with a sheet because Vanessa can’t stand seeing her reflection.
“She’s always putting herself down,” Jaylyan said.
After awhile, nothing worked to get her to school, her father said, not even ”bribes” of new clothes and a laptop from her grandfather.
Counseling urged
Reynoso said the school’s attendance review board recommended Vanessa see a psychiatrist and be put on medication. But the family never followed through, she admits. Reynoso said it was because they couldn’t afford it and Medi-Cal wouldn’t cover it. But in similar cases, nonprofit mental health agencies that sit on the special attendance review boards provide services.
After Reynoso was sentenced, she said, she learned from a friend about a nearby nonprofit program for troubled children, Achieve Kids, that offers free counseling. The agency’s East San Jose campus is only about six blocks away, and Reynoso has already met with a counselor there who recommended that both she and Vanessa come in once a week for separate sessions.
The prognosis is good for children who are treated for anxiety disorders, said clinical psychologist Michael Gennette, executive director of Achieve Kids. He couldn’t comment specifically on Vanessa’s case, but said children can develop a pathological negative self-image and exaggerated fears that prompt them to eliminate most social contact, particularly if they’ve been bullied.
“The good news is, this is treatable,” he said. “But it takes awhile for children to become homebound, and the longer the condition has gone on, the longer they’ll need treatment to overcome their fears. ”
Prosecutor Baer said she is glad Vanessa will finally get help, but that will not change her position.
“If jail was what it has taken to get her to act,” Baer said, ”then it’s absolutely the right thing to do.”
Vanessa said she wishes the court would give her mother a last-minute reprieve.
“It’s not fair,” she said, her brown eyes welling with tears, “I really need her.”
4ElementsCoaching said,
February 25, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
Well, I recently found you through another podcast. Have no idea what’s going with WifeSwap but would like to know where I can find the worksheets. I found one available for download on Episode 1, I believe but never saw any others after that. Is that the only worksheet for the whole program?
I’ll start at the beginning, happily oblivious and wait for your return.
kimbiq said,
February 27, 2009 @ 6:17 am
Renee, we are so blessed to have your podcast. I hope you start back soon. As far as the wife swap, I don’t watch reality TV because it is not reality. Editing and directing distort people and their views. No one is perfect. If you want to make anyone look bad, these shows can do it. Reality TV reminds me of the Jerry Springer show, stay away from it. We love you and hope you come back soon. Thank you for all your help with my weight loss journey. I am a slow starter but I am feeling much better. SE
Big_Island_Jim said,
March 1, 2009 @ 4:24 am
I saw the infamous Wife Swap episode and thought to myself that I would look in to you folks and see how you were doing… and “no” this is not a hateful comment.
I believe that your husband is truly sorry for his behavior on the show, and I bet you have been going through some really tough times as well since it aired. All I can say is that I know things will get better in time, and that for you, and your family, I sincerely hope that you don’t let this incident tear up your marriage. This is not your defining moment for either one of you.
I believe that this incident can help you both to define yourselves in your works and actions in your future endeavors. I applaud your husband for removing himself from the Boards of the organizations which he is involved in, and I would like to thank both of you for the selflessness you have in helping others and our environment. Your life of service to others is admirable. Please don’t stop.
You’re work in helping overweight people is a service that needs to continue, and I sincerely hope that you use this moment of attention to capitalize on delivering your message.
Aloha,
Jim
susan roy said,
March 3, 2009 @ 9:01 am
Who cares about WIFE SWAP! I understand the attraction to go on or watch those programs anyway. ALL I KNOW IS LISTENING TO RENEE IS THE FIRST THING THAT HAS HELPED ME IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!
susan roy said,
March 3, 2009 @ 9:13 am
OK. I messed up on my post. Let me try again! I don’t understand why anyone has an interest in those programs…. Listeneing to Renee has helped me so much. I don’t care about the rest of it. All I know is that my weight has escalated to 200 lbs (I am 5′6″) and has been stuck on that number no matter what I eat, no matter what “diet” program I am no, wether I count points, or calories or fat grams or carbs, no matter how much I exercised. The scale has been stuck at 200 - not going up or down, regardless of binges. I started listening to Renee about two weeks ago. After the first week , I started really practicing what she says. I have also read several books about mindful eating and am working through the workbook called Body Esteem by Sherri Dawson. I have lost 5 lbs so far. This is the most weight I have lost in 7 years. Even when I was counting points, I lost 3 lbs the first week and then gained it back the next week. One thing that really resonates with me is the idea of eating when and only when I am hungry. I realized that eating was something I did without thinking because it was not a pleasent experience. It was something I had to do to survive, but yet I did it with guilt and anxiety. Now I eat when I am hungry. When I check in and find I am not yet hungry, I know I can eat if I want to, but I choose to wait until my body tells me I am hungry so that I will be able to enjoy my food. Then I eat only until I am satisfied. Some days, I don’t need eat very much to feel content. Other days I am a bit more hungry and I eat a little more. I no longer eat because it is “time” or because other people are doing it. I eat to satisfy my hunger and I enjoy my food much more.
I truly hope that you are only taking a break and that you will soon be producing more of your wonderful podcasts!
Thank you Renee. And stay away from those reality shows!
terese said,
March 8, 2009 @ 10:40 am
Sign me up! I came to the website after previewing IOWL as a support tool for my intention to recreate health in the midst of life change. Where there is such a great deal of upheaval, there must also be a great blessing and cleasing on the way.
Thanks for your kind and compassionate response to the outpouring of hate since that foolish show aired. We can all learn and grow from our mistakes. Ironically, those mean spirited blogs are far more vicious and hateful than anything Steven said, and overlook the derogatory comments made by the Longs, and others, about you and your sweet family.
Peace to all.
aprilnyc said,
March 8, 2009 @ 4:09 pm
I am just starting to listen to your pod casts, so it will take a while for me to catch up. Hope your time off is constructive, healing and refreshing.
My weight has held steady for the past 8 years or so, I have a BMI of 30 and I’d like it to be in the normal range. I am eager to do the work it takes to get to my goal.