The First Step to A Successful Weight-Loss Resolution
by Dinneen
Filed under Blog, Weight Loss
As New Year approaches, one thing is on everybody’s mind: Resolutions. And losing weight always seems to be at the top of the list. And that’s okay. It’s always good to want to improve.
Isn’t that what resolutions are all about? Improving your life in some way that makes it better, happier and more satisfying? No matter who you are, what you do, where you live, and what you believe, we’re all constantly evolving. Evolving into our own selves and creating a life of fulfillment.
But all too often, by February or March, many people have given up and gone back to their old ways. Soon, any weight they lost comes right back. The result is feelings of guilt and incompetence as they conclude they are simply not disciplined enough or don’t have the willpower to follow through.
But it doesn’t take discipline or willpower. Improving your life doesn’t have to be difficult.
So what’s going on? Why can’t many people lose weight and keep it off in the long run?
A main reason is due to one’s mindset. Losing weight is more than just knowing “what to eat.” We know more today than ever about what we should be eating for a healthy diet. So it’s not about lack of information. We KNOW we should be eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. But we just don’t do it.
Instead, we keep looking for that magic answer. The one that will solve our weight concerns and make them go away. All the endless diet plans, so-called super foods, diets pills, meal-replacement drinks, and other weight-loss tricks don’t work. There are more diets out there than ever before — but we keep gaining weight.
These approaches are simply attempts to deal with the effect, without changing the cause.
To be successful you must change the cause. The cause that needs dealing with is not overeating, it’s a bit below that. You need to ask yourself — what causes you to overeat or not take better care of yourself?
Once you understand the cause, then you can deal with the weight.
With this approach you need to change your mindset. If you only diet because you want to stop being overweight, lose weight, and deny yourself food you really want to eat, you are trying to create deprivation, guilt, and unhappiness.
How often and for how long will you continue to do something that causes you to be unhappy?
Instead, decide to start being MORE healthy, BEGIN to create better physical activity with your body, and ALLOW yourself the pleasure of feeling lighter, healthier and happier than ever before — and you will succeed.
How to Indulge, Without the Bulge, Over the Holidays
by Dinneen
Filed under Blog, Nutrition, Weight Loss
As someone whose job it is to help people lose weight (and keep it off), you might be surprised to hear that, yes, I do indulge a bit during the holidays. Hot chocolate? Pass me a cup. Gingerbread? Mmm, mmm, serve me some. Christmas cookies? Absolutely!
My philosophy is that there’s no reason not to indulge a bit in something you (or your family) enjoy during the December holidays, provided you: 1) eat with pleasure 2) do it in moderation and 3) get some exercise.
Okay, I know. Easier said than done, right? That’s what I hear all of the time. Everyone is afraid they can’t indulge as they fear they’ll lose control and eat everything in sight! But there’s NO need to fear. Follow my advice and you’ll learn that you can have your cake…and eat it too!
Moderation. I know this a tough one for many. You think that once you start, you won’t be able to stop. The reason you often can’t stop is that you think of the food as “forbidden” and something that you shouldn’t be eating. By understanding that it’s okay to eat the indulgent food, you’ll relax more and that “I must eat it all now” attitude will subside.
You see, we’re genetically programmed to eat in a feast-or-famine world. It did us good when we were hunters and gatherers, as we didn’t always know when the next meal or piece of food was going to be around. But we live in a drastically different world today.
The REAL Reason Oprah Has Gained Weight — Again!
by Dinneen
Filed under Blog, Weight Loss
Oprah’s Battle With Weight Gain – and her Missing Link for Permanent Weight Loss
It’s hitting the airwaves and news media like a tidal wave. The news about Oprah and her constant struggle with her weight.
Once a trim, healthy-for-her-body weight of 160 pounds, Oprah has now reached the dreaded 200 pound mark, a number she (nor many of us) does not want to see on the bathroom scale.
In the latest issue of O Magazine (January 2009) Oprah opens up about why she feels she regained the weight, what she’s learned, and how she plans to change. The article is candid, open, honest. She puts it all out there. There’s no excuses, whining, or blaming of anything, or anyone other than herself, for her actions (or lack thereof). Kudos to Oprah for being real, being open, and taking responsibility for her body, her life, and how to go about moving forward.
In her article, Oprah says:
“My goal isn’t to be thin. My goal is for my body to be the weight it can hold—to be strong and healthy and fit, to be itself.”
That’s an awesome goal. And a goal we all should be reaching for. But there’s something missing. Something that Oprah is not getting. The key — the missing link — that holds the answer. The key to help ALL OF US reach our goals and solve our own weight challenges.
But before I get to that, I need to address some other questions that are on everybody’s minds, and the ones Oprah tries to answer in her candid article:
Why? Why did Oprah REALLY put on the weight? How did she let this happen?
Really — Oprah, of all people. I mean, this is a woman who has it all. With all of the experts and medical doctors she is friends with and has on her show, she knows what to do – heck, we all know what to do, it’s not rocket science: eat healthier, eat less and move more.
But why didn’t she (and don’t we all) just do it?
I mean Oprah has it all: money, fame, friends, and a hugely successful career (to put it mildly).
Really. What DOESN’T Oprah have?
She is one of the lucky few who have access to (and the money to pay for) the top people in the health, wellness, nutrition and fitness fields. She has access to personal tainers, chefs, expensive gyms (and probably a home-gym too, I’m sure). She has all of the tools to make weight-loss and weight-management possible AND easy!
I mean, really. She doesn’t come home from a long day of work and have to worry about chopping, preparing and cooking dinner.
So what is it?
If one of the richest, most famous, and successful women in the world who has overcome the odds in many areas of her life — if SHE can’t lose weight AND keep it off, then how the heck can YOU?
If Oprah keeps falling off the wagon, then how on earth are YOU going to stay on track??
Well, I’ve got the answer for you.
Oprah touches on it and talks about areas it touches in her article, but she’s missing the big point. She talks about many reasons, all of them true.
Oprah talks about her thyroid problem. But says she has that under control and knows that is NOT the reason why she regained the weight, nor does she use it as an excuse. (Hey, she’s lucky enough to be treated by the best doctors money can buy).
She then talks about a list of reasons why: she has a food addiction, she uses food for comfort, she is craving love, and she needs to put herself and her health on her to-do list as a priority.
These issues are all true. But there’s still a missing link. And it’s NOT about only eating the right foods.
It’s not about eating steamed broccoli and chicken the rest of her life. It’s not about how much to eat, portion control, or how many calories, fat grams or carbs she eats. It’s not about being too busy, stressed, and tired to cook or eat right. It’s not about having enough willpower.
It all boils down to ONE thing, and the one thing Oprah does not have or is really broken:
her relationship with food. THAT, my friends, is the foolproof formula Oprah (and all of us) are seeking.
It’s her broken relationship with food that…
- is making everything else out of whack that she can’t get control of her weight
- makes her put herself last, and the food first
- made Oprah feel she didn’t want to photographed head-to-toe all last year for the cover of O Magazine
- made her hit rock bottom — and not want to be onstage with Tina Turner and Cher (both older, but who looked better, felt better, and had more energy than she did)
- got her on the wagon in the first place, then off it again
Only when she has a positive relationship with food — and only then — will she stop using food as a drug, stop using food for comfort, to soothe, or to ease stress. Only then, will she stop craving love and stop reaching for food instead. Only then, will she stop and ask herself if, and why, she’s really hungry.
She needs to change her relationship with food.
Do that, my friends, and you will you have found the foolproof formula for permanent weight loss and be truly happy, healthy, and be whole — right now, in 2009, and in every new year.
And let me know YOUR thoughts…
P.S. Call me Oprah — or anyone who has gone off the wagon — I can help. Really, I can.
Holiday Eating — Without Weight Gain!
by Dinneen
Filed under Blog, Weight Loss
Are you one of those people that enjoy the holidays, but dread the inevitable weight gain that goes along with it?
Do you want to attend the holiday parties and social events, but fear you’ll lose control once you see the dessert table?
With the constant temptations of calorie-laden food, it can be a challenge to get through the holiday season without putting on a few extra pounds.
So how to get through this “Season of Eating” without weight gain?
Here are some of my favorite and helpful tips:
1) Make every bite count. When you arrive at a party survey the table and decide which foods you love the most, or special foods you only get during the holidays. Whether its pecan pie, creamy fudge, or another tasty treat that’s your favorite — have some of that and remind yourself you can have the other foods at a later time.
Remember, too much self-denial stirs up cravings that get stronger and lead you to overeat or binge later on.
2) Be realistic. Don’t expect yourself to make calorie controlled, anti-oxidant, fiber-rich choices at every holiday gathering. It’s completely normal to eat some rich or indulgent foods. Don’t go to an event or party thinking you’ll stay away from those foods and only eat the healthy stuff. Don’t fool yourself…be realistic. You’re only human after all!
3) Eat regular meals, especially breakfast. It’s important to eat breakfast year-round, but even more vital this time of year. Too many people will skip breakfast in order to save calories later in the day. It always backfires. Always. You’ll only end up eating more later in the day, and then feel guilty afterwards. Besides, breakfast is a good way to start off the day in a healthy, positive attitude!
4) Just move on. Picture this: you’re at a holiday party. One minute you’re sitting next to a bowl of potato chips and the next minute the bowl is empty. You don’t know where the chips went, but your fingers are greasy….
Move yourself away from the food or buffet table. Once you’ve filled your plate and eaten your food, just walk away. That’s right, walk away. It’s just too darn tempting (and easy) to mindlessly nibble on what’s next to you. So just move on.
5) Remember that beverages have calories too. I know, it’s tough to think that glass of wine, eggnog or punch is not “calorie-free.” On top of that, alcohol has that magical power of making us forget that FOOD has calories too, as too much alcohol can lead us to overeat!
6) Arrive at a holiday party HUNGRY. That’s right, hungry. Ignore the old diet advice to “eat beforehand so you won’t arrive hungry.” You want to be hungry so you can enjoy some of your favorite foods. Just don’t arrive famished. There’s a difference. You don’t want to arrive so hungry that you eat everything in sight.
If I find I’m getting really hungry before a party, I’ll have a very small snack. Just enough so I don’t arrive famished, but not too much so I still have an appetite to enjoy the wonderful foods when I arrive!
7) Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Okay. I know. I get it. You KNOW you need to eat more fruits and veggies. But this time of year fruits and veggies seem to just get overlooked or forgotten about. Even I have to remind myself to eat more of them this time of year. Especially when I’m feeling tired or blue. I’m either not getting enough fruits & veggies, or I’m not getting enough sleep (or both). Which leads me to….
8) Get your sleep. Really. I know it can be hard with the long hours at work, the extra socializing, and late-night business affairs. But getting enough sleep is crucially important this time of year. Did you know that people who sleep more are, on average, slimmer than those who get less shut-eye? Yup. And anyone who knows me can tell you I get 8 hours of sleep a night. And if I don’t, I’m more tempted to reach for the high fat & high calorie foods. So I’m careful to get enough shut-eye.
So get out your festive clothing and head to a holiday party. Don’t stay home in fear of facing the food. Instead, get out, have fun, and remember the tips I just gave you. You just may find you had more fun than you thought you would!
