Weight Loss Tips Learned from the 21st Winter Olympics

Keep going.

Sounds simple, but it is a big tip that if followed will lead to your weight loss success.

It is one of the things that worked for me...of course it applies to all areas of our lives, but sometimes we fail to see how it applies to losing weight...or maybe it is just that we are hoping for a magic bullet. No, that couldn't be it, could it?

Look at the athletes in the Olympics...they have really inspired me, not just by their abilities, but because they really exemplify this idea of keep going, despite injuries, falls, and personal mishaps.

I know how challenging it is to keep going...I suffered my share of injuries over my life. And when injured it is hard to keep moving. Let's face it, if you are struggling with wanting to lose as much weight as I was just MOVING can be a challenge.

One important point...don't interpret "Keep going" to me, through the pain and despite all injuries! You WILL have to modify your activities if you are injured...think of the short-track speed skater JR Celski...incredibly this young man had a severe injury just a few months ago...and still is a medalist at the Vancouver Olympics.

He did it with a lot of help...and specialized workouts and therapy.

On the other hand, Lindsay Vonn, the awesome downhill skier who hurt her shin in a practice run just before the Olympics...she needed rest to heal. (Truth be told, that was in order for JR the first few days, too...it just wasn't as publicized because that was last fall!)

We can all take a lesson from this...when injured work with a professional who will guide you as to just how long you need to rest. This might be a doctor, a physical therapist or a trainer. Then, start working out again...but modify your workout...workout different muscles, keep moving so that you don't suffer a further setback.

Bottom line...the lesson learned from the Olympics: don't let an injury become your current excuse to not work out! Adapt your routine. Consult with professionals--get the help you need. But keep on going all the way and you will cross the finish line to weight loss success!

Olympic Fitness and Weight Loss Tip

I love watching the Olympics...and I love learning lessons from these incredible athletes.

One of the big weight loss tips I've gained from this, the 21st Winter Olympics, is that it is possible to be too strict...that over working or being to rigid can result in our downfall rather than getting a gold around our neck.

The gold medal we are going after is our health, and we aren't working for just one day or event that happens every four years (thank goodness!)...but there is the pressure that we put on ourselves to be "perfect."

Our version of the perfect 10 score (which is no longer used in the Olympics, so I'm showing my age here) is sticking to our diet without fail and working out every day super hard.

Let's learn from the athletes and apply it to our weight loss--sometimes taking a bit of a break can give us better results.

Many of the Nordic skiers who ended up with medals were ill earlier in the season. The illness didn't make them win, so don't run out and get sick in hopes that will make you more fit! But sometimes by taking a break away from the strict routine they gave their bodies and spirits a needed rest...just in time for them to excel in Vancouver.

If you find that you are bored with your routine, or you have reached a plateau in your results, then follow this weight loss tip: try something different. Try a different food, a different type of exercise...or even just give yourself a mini-vacation! Give you head a chance to think about something else for a while, and your body a chance to get used to where it is.

Rather than pushing harder because you are discouraged...give yourself a little break so you can come back again and win in the long run!

Weight Loss Success is a Dream of Olympic Proportion

If weight loss were an Olympic sport and there were only a limited number of medals given out then it would make sense why so many of Americans are overweight. Fortunately, we don't have to compete with anyone but ourselves to achieve our goal of weight loss success! And the medals are limitless--anyone can get the gold in this race of a life time.

The key to achieving success...when so many people have lost weight only to regain it, or not lost it all...is your mindset. Start there and commit to making small changes and being consistent.

It takes consistency in your actions...from moving your body a little bit more (no, you don't have to work out 8 hours a day like Apolo Ohno), to eating more healthy foods (don't believe the commercials...just because a company pays to be an Olympic sponsor does not mean the athletes eat or drink the stuff on a regular basis!) and keeping your mind on the prize.

Be inspired by the Olympians to be your best and to get a little bit better every day. They may make it look easy, but they work very hard for their success. You don't have to work as hard...just take those little steps, one after another, moving you forward.

To learn more about my Refuse to Diet philosophy...and how the Olympics have inspired me, go to RefuseToDiet where I prove that Weight Loss Success Starts with Your Mind...Not Your Mouth...I give tips and tools on mindset, exercises for weight loss and healthy eating that is quick, easy and won't break the budget!

5 Weight Loss Tips for the 21st Winter Olympics

I love watching the Olympics...winter and summer both...heck, I'd probably watch a spring and fall Olympics...ooh, guess they'd better call it the autumn Olympics...

Anyway, watching the opening ceremonies last night got me thinking...and a sore butt...

I'm visiting my mom, helping her recover from surgery (she's doing great and I'll be heading home soon) so I'm a bit out of my element and it really was an eye-opener.

Wow, was that show long! I have TIVO (and if you don't, you really ought to consider it) so I fast forward through all the commercials. On a typical hour-long show that saves me about 20 minutes! I cringe to think how much time we would have saved if we had been able to cruise through the commercials last night. Maybe my mom would have even been able to stay awake for it.

One of the frustrating things for me, besides the length and the number of commercials, was here I am in California...on the same time zone as the Olympics...and we are having to wait to watch them until "prime time." What is up with that? It meant the show wasn't over until midnight. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Especially when it was well over an hour into the show before the ceremonies even started.

OK, so what does this have to do with losing weight?

First, do what you can to NOT sit on your butt for 4 hours of television. The athletes certainly don't...if they want to achieve their goals they are out moving...some may be sitting for hours on sleds...but they are actively working their muscles while doing it.

Tivo is one option. Don't have Tivo and want to watch the Olympics? I understand...get up and move as much as you can. There are plenty of commercials which allow for you to get in some quick laps around the living room or do some isometric exercises.

Second, eat like an athlete...sort of...smaller quantities, but eat the same good healthy food that an athlete eats, a good balance of protein, complex carbs and fats. Be sure to eat lots of veggies and fruits.

Third, drink lots of clean, pure water. I know Coke and Budweiser are sponsors, but you don't need the empty calories. The athletes will be drinking more water than anything else...again, follow their model and keep hydrated...the best way to do that is with good ol' water!

Fourth, avoid eating unconsciously throughout the games. Don't have snacks out unless you are going to be okay with eating them...because you probably will. Figure out what you are going to eat...have some easy foods...or if you can prepare foods and watch the athletes at the same time, do that. Most experts will tell you not to eat in front of the television...but I don't find that to be very realistic, especially during the Olympics...heck, when are they NOT on? Instead make your goal to be mindful about your eating.

Fifth, if you have trouble keeping from eating while watching then figure out something else you can do with your hands. This can be a big challenge...keeping your hands busy and watching television at the same time...but experiment with a few things and see if they help you. I used to do a lot of embroidery and found that I could do that while I was watching television. I know others who knit. The other night I did some mending. But sewing is not the only thing you can do to keep your hands busy...you can even combine keeping your hands busy with exercising by using some light hand weights (or canned goods from the kitchen cupboard)...do some curls and other upper body work and you might just look more like the athletes you are watching!

Our Olympic challenge--to achieve our health goals...we may never be Olympians, but we can and will achieve an Olympic feat...we will achieve the healthy, energetic, slender bodies we deserve--as long as we focus on our goals and take steps every day to get closer and closer to them!

Olympic Inspirations

Being a former swimmer, I watched the swimming events with my usual fervor, even though I had to scale back my Olympic viewing in other areas. Of course I was blown away by the successes of all the swimmers, including Michael Phelps, but most especially Dara Torres.

One of the things that was impressed upon me was how much the sport has changed from my day (hey, I'm more the Mark Spitz era!) and what I can take away from those changes to apply to my life today. Specifically my own health and fitness routine.

Of course there is no way I am going to spend the hours every day working out that they do. However I can increase the time I spend stretching my body. I watched mesmorized as "Team Torres" massaged, pulled, stretched and munched that body. So I spent an extra few minutes getting a really good stretch in before my morning walk the last few days.

Guess what? It helped this 50 year old get a better walk. I was able to go further, faster with less fatigue!

So if you aren't stretching, or you think a minute will do it, I suggest you stretch twice as long (or longer) and see what that does for you!