Eat Without Guilt

Are You Ready for a Renewal?

Dinneen — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:05:11 +0000

Ah, Spring…And though it officially arrived a month ago, for me it doesn’t really begin until the weather is a bit warmer and the grass and trees start turning green. Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. A time for nature to come out of hibernation and rejuvenate. Personally, I feel there’s just something magical about Spring. The birds come back and I hear them chirping, I begin see the flowers budding, and I feel the sun getting warmer. It’s lightens my spirit. For so many of us, it’s a time when we begin to reflect on our life. Kind of like in the New Year, but with less “expectations.” I like that about spring, there’s less stress of having to make a change. When I’m working with my clients, one of the things I help them with is that too often look to the past. They look at… Read more

How to Stop Mindless Snacking

Dinneen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:53:56 +0000

Do you sometimes find yourself eating when you are not really hungry? Ever sit down in front of the TV, bag of chips or pretzels in hand–and before you realize it, you’ve finished the entire bag? After you’ve finished dinner, do you sometimes find yourself looking around your home for a snack even though you’re not really hungry? Maybe you dig into the candy dish in your office and later notice not one or two, but ten Hershey Kisses wrappers in the trash? If so, you’re not alone. Though snacking can be good for you, too often people snack mindlessly and snack for reasons other than true hunger. Too many people snack not because they have a physical hunger, but to feed an emotional hunger. But no matter what or how much you eat, you can never satisfy an emotional need with food. So what to do? I have a… Read more

The First Step to Ending the Diet Cycle

Dinneen — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:21:37 +0000

It seems every day there’s a new miracle product, program, or ‘food’ that promises weight loss. Yet time and time again I see the promises are false (and I’m sure you do too!). Sure, if you follow a diet plan you will most likely lose weight — but after some time you put the weight back on. So you go on a diet AGAIN, and the cycle continues. Here’s how the process usually goes, in its most simple form: Start dieting (often on a Monday…) Restrict meals and/or types of foods Lose weight End dieting Return to normal routine & eating habits (and likely some bingeing in there too) Gain weight Start dieting again Repeat steps 1-7 again (and again, and again) Look familiar? You see, going “on” a diet implies that someday, unhealthy habits — and extra weight — return. More beneficial is learning — and sticking to —… Read more

How to Avoid Overeating During the Holidays

Dinneen — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:17:58 +0000

As someone who helps women with their eating, I surprise people all the time when I’m at a holiday party. They see me eating the brie with soft crusty bread (and she’s going back for more!), then later headed to the dessert table for a few holiday cookies (how could she?!). They can’t help wonder how on earth I do it — keep my weight in check and help other women do the same. The trick is to avoid all the typical holiday diet “advice” — avoid certain foods, eat before the party, only take one serving. Instead, you need to approach the holidays (and frankly, ALL year) with an easier and softer approach for both body and mind. Here are some of my favorite suggestions: 1) Make every bite count. Do you want to fill up on all the appetizers and then not have room for dessert? When you… Read more

Thanksgiving Healthy Eating Tip

Dinneen — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:42:16 +0000

For a holiday that’s all about giving thanks, Thanksgiving Day is not the time to worry about calories, fat grams, carbs and diets. Sure I know there are many tips for eating healthy on a holiday, but you’ve already heard or read about them before: make sure you eat breakfast, drink enough water, limit your alcohol, fill your plate with vegetables, skip second helpings, etc. And sure, it’s good advice, but what kind of world do you want to live in if you can’t enjoy a holiday without fretting over whether to have the pumpkin pie or not? And lets face it, even if you DO fret over it you’ll probably end up eating it anyway. Either that, or you’ll deny yourself the dessert, and then end up overeating or bingeing later on. So this Thanksgiving I have one piece of advice (okay, two): eat with pleasure and without… Read more

How To Eat Like a Naturally Thin Person

Dinneen — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:31:06 +0000

The other weekend I was at a friend’s house for a party, when all of a sudden a woman came up to me and said “You’re having a piece of cake?” “Yes,” I said, “and I’m enjoying every single bite.” The woman then replied, “Oh, you must be one of those naturally thin people…I can’t even look at a piece of cake and not put on 5 pounds!” Little did this woman know that for at least half of my life I dealt with overeating, emotional eating, binge eating, and yo-yo dieting. Quite often people see me eating a guilty food, see that I’m at a normal weight — so they just assume I’m a “naturally thin person.” What people don’t realize is that now, I have a relaxed relationship with food. And that was the turning point for me. Changing my relationship with food. So much of what I learned about food,… Read more

One Simple Trick to Improve Your Diet

Dinneen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:06:19 +0000

I like to think I’m not like “most” nutrition experts. And though I’m all about nutrition — I also take a different road than most people out there. I’m not going to tell you exactly what to eat and when. Sure, I’ll give you my suggestions and advice — but I need to look at the individual as a whole and not just say “eat this, not that” (because if it was that easy you’d already be at your ideal weight). You see, most nutrition experts and Diets give their clients a list of foods to avoid. And guess what? As human beings — all too often we want what we can’t have. Let me say that again. We want what we can’t have. Think about it. Imagine I tell you right now, that you can never have another cookie again. Okay, forever seems way too long. So what if… Read more

Afraid of Overindulging in Candy this Halloween?

Dinneen — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:46:18 +0000

With Halloween approaching, I know this can be a difficult time for many people ~ especially emotional eaters. With all of the candy around, it’s tough to not overindulge in chocolate, feel ‘bad’ or guilty for eating so much of it — and then get into the spiral of eating MORE of the candy, or having it for breakfast on Nov 1st (okay, maybe that was me years ago). Though I have written about how to conquer your candy cravings at Halloween in the past, and the tips and advice I gave I still stand by today. But as I’m constantly learning, becoming more aware, and after working with and helping hundreds of women — my insight is deeper & more profound. As many of my readers are emotional eaters (and let’s face it — there’s a lot of emotion attached to food, so who hasn’t eaten for emotional reasons at some… Read more

Stuck In a Diet Rut? How to Easily Get Out of It

Dinneen — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:41:05 +0000

* Disclaimer: I don’t like the word “diet” — but unfortunately it’s what most people trying to live a healthy lifestyle relate to. Let’s face it — we’re creatures of habit and most often eat the same things over and over again. And whether you’re trying to lose weight, maintain your healthy lifestyle, or have a healthy relationship with food, it can get pretty boring. I know even for myself, though I’ve overcome my battle with dieting, poor body image, low self-esteem, and avoiding parties because I felt fat and like crap — and though I do lead an overall healthy lifestyle (chocolate included!) I sometimes find myself in a rut and not enjoying my food or exercise routine. So What Causes This Rut? Simply put: Boredom. Ourselves, our bodies, and our tastebuds get fed up. They’re saying: Another lunch of chicken breast, green beans and brown rice AGAIN? In… Read more

Halloween: 9 Tips to Conquer Your Candy Cravings

Dinneen — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:54:26 +0000

Remember being a kid and getting all excited about Halloween? Deciding on who or what you wanted to dress up as, creating a costume, and being able to get all of that candy!! Yet now as an adult, thoughts of all that candy is the scariest part of Halloween. There’s just too much of it around and you don’t know how to conquer your candy cravings. So here are some tips to help you tackle the holiday and manage all of those treats: 1) Wait to buy the candy until the day of Halloween. Especially if candy is one of your trigger foods. Know yourself. If keeping it around is going to be just too tempting, then wait until buying it. 2) Don’t purchase your favorite candy. I know for me, it’s Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (and Kit Kat, and M&M’s, and….okay…there’s a lot I do like!) So… Read more