Relying on Self-Discipline can be Disastrous

My dog must not have realized he easily could have escaped through the open gate. He was so used to the gate being closed that if I let him out with the gate open he would not even notice or care. After the gate broke, he was continually exposed to an open gate and yet stayed put. Baby steps and soon he was running out of the gate. The constant exposure was too much temptation for him to resist one moment longer. Oreos are my open gate. I don’t mind the children having Oreos every now and again Why should … Continue reading →

I went for a run…..a donut run.

After dropping off my oldest at school, I could no longer resist the urge. I headed for donuts. I knew I would have full support of the rest of the kids at home. I may even win mom of the year walking through the door with sprinkled donuts in hand. I have a bit more refined palette so I go for the mega deluxe cream filled donut. The breakfast of champions! Yes, I did feel kinda guilty about this whole donut run. Who needs a 20 grams of fat or more in one little sugar snack anyway? I also have … Continue reading →

Goals for a New Year

New goals require a new attitude and new habits. Without a change of attitude and habits a new goal will fall flat on its face. And what is a new year without some new goals and habits? I guess that would be a reflection of an old year. I don’t know about you but I did not want a repeat of 2012. The year, 2012, started out with a glimmer of hope for a year full of success and victory. For a multitude of reasons, some my own and some not, the year fell more than flat it fell into … Continue reading →

The All or Nothing Dieter

The “all or nothing” dieter believes she either succeeded or she failed. This attitude is commonly found in perfectionists although it does not need to be. The “all or nothing” attitude is a pitfall that leads to feelings of failure. It is rarely a motivating and effective way to diet. Do not confuse this attitude with perseverance. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It is not displayed by a person who keeps trying despite the odds but a person who gives up as soon as she perceives a failing. Hallmark Thoughts of the All or Nothing Dieter “I will … Continue reading →

Do overweight and fit people think differently?

Steve Siebold is author of the book Die Fat or Get Tough; 101 Differences in Thinking Between Fat People and Fit People, and a mental toughness coach whose goal is to equip other with the mental toughness to lose weight. He was a professional athlete that ended up being 40 pounds overweight. He got tough and lost the weight and says he is in the best shape of his life. Over his years of research he learned things that shocked him. Here is some of what he learned as far as the different between fit and fat people. Overweight people … Continue reading →

End of the Month Check In

Well, it’s an end of another month. It’s also the end of the shortest month of year. Hardly seems fair to give a dieter a short month. So we are two months into a brand new year. This is about the time when New Year’s resolutions start to fizzle and overwhelmed and discouraged dieters open up boxes of cookies and wait for another Monday. How are you doing so far? To recap the month, we have discussed a variety of work out dvds. Have you decided to try any of the out? We also discussed using herbs to assist in … Continue reading →

Winter Blahs

Unmotivated. Low energy. Fatigued. That describes me in the winter. I sometimes wonder if I was not intended to have been born in a warmer climate. The idea of doing anything in the winter seems like too much to think about. If I was the type of person to believe in former lives, and I am not, I would guess I was a bear at one time. I could sleep all winter long. I dislike the cold. I dislike the gray skies. I dislike the slush. Now, on perfect sunny and fluffy snow days, I almost think I could live … Continue reading →

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope all of you are having a wonderful time this holiday with your friends and family. Today is a challenging day for dieters but you can keep on track and still enjoy a holiday known mostly for stuffing the stuffing in your face. Focus on an attitude of gratitude and not the pumpkin pie on the table. Be thankful for having to say “no” to food instead of starving. Here are some last minute tips, reminders and things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Tips: 1. Do not arrive at your place of destination hungry. Have a … Continue reading →

Getting My Mind Right: My Doctor Said I Have Lost Enough Weight

This morning, my doctor said the words that I have wanted to hear for a long time. The same doctor, who previously told me that I needed to lose 100 pounds, told me today that he thought that I have lost enough weight. I am now officially on a maintenance diet for life. I have done a lot of study of the popular diets that many of us are on or have been on at one time or another. The problem with almost all of them is that they are a temporary fix. True, an individual will lose weight while … Continue reading →

Getting My Mind Right: The Skinny On How I’m Doing

I am now officially on weight maintenance and trying to find an eating plan that will work. My weight is staying level, but I am really sort of dieting and sort of eating carefully. I am having funny, but exciting, things happening. The other day, I had my hand on one side of the middle of my abdomen and I noticed something protruding. I found Nancy and said, “Something right here is sticking out”. She asked me if I had one on the other side and, when I did, pointed out that I was feeling my rib cage. This morning … Continue reading →