Monday, February 9, 2009

Who Needs Comfort Food? Not You!

Stress. Fear. The economy. Is it any wonder you’re craving a heaping pile of mom’s meatloaf or mac and cheese? In times of stress nothing quite says comfort like comfort food – and lots of it. I don’t blame you. It’s hard not to feel stressed when every bit of news is negative and frankly, scary. And I know that not so good for us foods taste good and make us feel good – in the short term. But, please don’t forget about the long term. The reality is, these foods and all that stress can have terrible effects on your health in the long run. And the last thing any of us need right now are more medical bills, right?

Stay on your game! It’s not only possible, but research shows that eating healthfully can actually be cheap. It’s an urban myth that mac and cheese, etc. are the cheapest way to eat. When you fill yourself with healthy foods (think in-season or even frozen for fruits and vegetables), you feel fuller faster and longer. You actually consume less. And, you’ll feel better emotionally and physically. What’s more? We’re much better equipped to deal with issues and problems when we feel good, not sluggish and miserable.

Please, get up off the couch and get out of the kitchen and find a real way to burn your stress. Exercise! Go for a walk and feel the stress hormones melt away. Get your sleep. Sleep is just as key to your health as diet and exercise. Quality sleep will also help you deal with stress.
Even in this time of crisis, you can thrive! When we’re healthy, we can deal with the stress!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Honesty is the Best Policy

When it comes to weight loss,
Honesty is the Best Policy

Happy New Year! It’s amazing how many people say to me, “I’m doing everything right and just can’t figure out why I’m not losing weight.” Have YOU ever said these words? I’ve got one word for you: Honesty.

It’s not that people are lying or trying to cover-up their mistakes, it’s simply that they’re not aware of their dishonesty. The only way to be absolutely honest with yourself about what you’re truly doing is to journal. It’s a requirement of all of my clients. Journaling forces us to be honest with ourselves. Studies show that those who journal lose more weight and keep it off better than those who do not. So, what are you waiting for?

A journal should be simple. Carry it with you everywhere and every time your fingers go to your lips, write it down. Journal everything you eat, drink, sip, or taste-test. Write down your physical activity and how much sleep you’re getting. Then when you say, “I just can’t figure out why I’m not losing weight,” we can go back, look and say, “Oh yeah, I see it now.”

Losing weight:
Diet has a lot to do with it. Make sure you’re getting plenty of color and protein. I recommend CardioWhey and CardioTea daily for all of my weight loss clients. Write down absolutely everything you take in. Record your physical activity. Do something every day. You will not reach your goal if you are not active every day. Even if it’s just 20 minutes going up and down the stairs in your house, make sure it’s something every day.

Sleep: Don’t underestimate the value of sleep. You need 7.5 hours every night. If you’re not sleeping enough, stress hormones will increase and so will your appetite. Record your sleep in your journal and you’ll be able to spot patterns.

The only way to know if you’re on track to reach your goal is to journal. When you don’t lose weight one week, we can say, “there’s the extra cookie and glass of wine, a missed workout, etc…” Journaling is the best way to stay honest with yourself.