Eat Without Guilt » diet

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

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

How Your Food Legacy Can Be Affecting Your Weight

Dinneen — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:53:40 +0000

Though at first it might be hard to believe, but your thoughts, feelings and attitudes toward food began a long time ago. Probably when you were a child. “But wait,” you might be thinking. ”I ate normally as a child. I didn’t have any problems with food back then!” On that point, you may or may not be right. Maybe you were overweight as a child. Maybe you weren’t. But that’s not the (main) point here. You see, attitudes toward food begin at home. The environment in which you were raised has subtly but powerfully influenced your current attitudes toward food. They became part of you whether consciously, or unconsciously….but how your parents and your family viewed food is probably still with you today. For example: Did your parents ever tell you to finish your plate, even if you were full? Was your mother, father, or sibling ever on a… Read more

What Would You Do If You Were Thinner?

Dinneen — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:27:12 +0000

What would you do if you were Thin (or Thinner)? Seriously. Think about it. If you were at that “number” — you know, the one you keep dreaming about, working towards, and is maybe even taped onto your bathroom mirror for inspiration “30 more pounds to go!” (or maybe that was ME years ago…) Anyway — image yourself at that place. Close your eyes and imagine — okay, actually finish reading this post, then close your eyes and do the exercise! Imagine what it would be like at that ‘number’, your number (whether it be on the scale, the size of your jeans, cholesterol level, whatever it is for YOU). So imagine what life would be like at that number. How would it feel? How would YOU feel? What does it feel like? What emotions do you feel inside? Pretty good, huh? Now image what you would DO with your… Read more

Why Waiting to be Skinny Could be Hazardous to Your Health

Dinneen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:38:36 +0000

Over the past couple of years I’ve had the opportunity to talk to women around the country, and around the world. I’ve spoken to women in living rooms, at conferences, at talks I give and workshops I hold. I’ll even add that I’ve “spoken” to women on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. and of course, working with my clients — both in person and over the phone — I’ve spoken to hundreds, if not thousands, of women. And one thing I see over and over again are women putting their life on hold – waiting until they hit some magic number (whether it be a pants size or the bathroom scale) to find happiness. Whether a woman is from the Birmingham Alabama or Birmingham in the U.K., San Jose California or San Jose in Costa Rica….there is a mindset that is holding many of us back from living… Read more

The Latest Diet Victim

Dinneen — Tue, 18 May 2010 19:44:42 +0000

As I started my week on Monday morning, I sat down with my coffee (yes, cream and sugar) and put on the television to catch up on some news. So I tuned into Good Morning America. Now I do realize these morning shows don’t really give us much ‘news’, but as I have my coffee in the morning I like to catch the weather forcast and there’s not much else on besides these morning shows. But they often (excuse my French)…..piss me off. Why? Because it seems at least once a week (actually, it’s usually a few times a week) they have a story about weight-loss. And the “right” foods to eat. And the right diet. And how to be slim and happy. Yadda, yadda, yadda… “Lose 10 pounds by eating superfoods!” “Sugar is bad (no wait, good) for your heart!” “Lose belly fat for good!” ”How to walk off… Read more

What the Diet Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know

Dinneen — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:14:22 +0000

I’ve seen too many women spend years dieting, spending hundreds (more like thousands) of dollars on weight-loss programs and diets. And having self-esteem issues because they just ‘can’t follow the diet.’ Well, you might not like hearing this, but… The multibillion dollar diet industry thrives on your failure. They need you to keep coming back to them for business. The diet and weight-loss industry is built on repeat business. It would be a very short-lived business if we all succeeded the first time. And let’s face it, if they could really show you how to lose weight AND keep it off — you wouldn’t have to keep purchasing their products, attend their meetings, and buying their special foods. And some of the “big name” diet and weight-loss organizations are owned by food companies ….(makes you think, huh?). Americans alone spend over $55 billion (yup, Billion!) dollars a YEAR on weight-loss products. And as a nation we keep… Read more

5 Surprising Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight

Dinneen — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:05:15 +0000

Despite doing all of the right things — trading those potato chips for a wholesome snack, cooking and preparing your meals at home, and getting regular exercise — you’re still struggling to shed those last 10 or 20 pounds (or more!). And it seems you’ve been at it for weeks (months, years!) and you can’t get those darn last pounds off. Don’t just assume you can’t reach your goal — you can! Of course, you do need to make sure your weight-loss goal is a realistic one, but all too often I find that even “healthy” habits can get in the way of the scale moving in the right direction. Okay, you think I’ve lost it. You’re thinking, “How can healthy behaviors be getting in my way?” Well oftentimes just some small adjustments can make big payoffs. Here are some surprising reasons why you’re not losing the weight and how… Read more

My Elimination Diet: Update & surprising “diet” results

Dinneen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:07:50 +0000

Back at the end of November (November 30, to be exact), I decided to eliminate wheat from my diet. Not to lose weight. Not to fit into my skinny jeans. And not as a “quick fix” to shed pounds before the Holidays. Instead, it was to see if wheat was causing, or at least contributing to, the eczema that had been on my face for quite some time. And after one week of being on the “diet” (no, not THAT kind of diet) I blogged about it. (To read more about my Elimination Diet and why “going on one” can be helpful at times, read my original blog post about it here.) So though I LOVE wheat (you could say it’s ‘my crack’ as I could easily get addicted to it) I decided to eliminate it from my diet for at least a period of four weeks (but ended up… Read more

An Easy Way to Keep Your Waistline & Health In Check

Dinneen — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:15:20 +0000

Want to cut down on calories to shed a few pounds? Concerned about high blood pressure, diabetes, or some other condition? Or do you just want good nutrition for an overall happier, healthier and more vibrant life? Well there’s one surefire way to keep all of those things easily in check — cook at home! When it comes to healthy eating, you just can’t beat your own kitchen. In fact, I’ll guarantee that the more you cook at home, the healthier you will be. Hands down, it’s the best and easiest way to be healthier and keep your waistline in check! The culture of the kitchen contains more wisdom about diet and health than you are apt to find in any nutrition journal, health book, or the latest diet best-seller. Cooking at home is truly the best way to control what foods go into your body. You and your family… Read more