Although when speaking to Jennifer Hudson about her weight loss success Oprah claimed she didn't want her to reveal anything she wasn't comfortable with, the legendary interviewer persisted to badger the celebrity to reveal the precised number of pounds she has lost on her recent weight loss journey.
Clearly torn between her own wish not to talk about pounds and her desire to respond to and please Oprah, Jennifer caved --to a standing ovation from the studio audience.
Jennifer Hudson is indeed a weight loss inspiration. She looks great and says she feels like she is better than she ever has been in her life. So why did Oprah have to know how many pounds Jennifer has lost? Because Oprah still clings to the idea that a number indicates success or failure when it comes to measuring weight loss success. This is surprising coming from a woman who comes from "spirit" and defies common success measures in so many other aspects of her life.
Would the singer's weight loss be any less inspiring if she'd "only" lost 60 pounds? Would it have been more amazing if she'd lost 100 pounds? Not to me. Oprah mentioned that she couldn't relate to the Jennifer being a size 6 and neither could most people. I can't relate to a size 6 either, but I find the logic faulty. I wish Jennifer had stuck to her guns and not revealed numbers--either pounds or dress sizes.
Announcing these numbers automatically starts us calculating and comparing--which I believe Jennifer and her Weight Watchers coach were trying to avoid. It isn't about whether you have 20 pounds to lose or 200. It is about how you feel about yourself. We can all see the phenomenal results that Jennifer has achieved on this journey--and the difference in her attitude and appearance should be enough to inspire us no matter how many pounds she has lost.
Telling the world the number of pounds we've lost is less about an internal celebration and satisfaction and more about external recognition. We all deserve to feel good about our accomplishments--whether or not others congratulate us with words, pats on the back or standing ovations on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Of course it can be encouraging for people to hear about pounds lost. And it feels great to have other people congratulate us on our success. But I believe completely that if we are to have permanent weight loss success then we must lose the weight for ourselves and take satisfaction in our own results. I also believe that our best "advertisement" about our weight loss is our own image--in person and in the form of before and after pictures--and that this is also the best inspiration we can give to others. Happy, smiling faces and energetic bodies show the benefit of losing weight, whereas pounds loss are just numbers.
Showing posts with label Oprah Winfrey Show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oprah Winfrey Show. Show all posts
Friday, February 11, 2011
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
A Course in Weight Loss for Less
If you are a fan of Marianne Williamson, then you might know about her new book "A Course in Weight Loss" which Oprah was touting on her show recently. I've learned it is available in book (hard cover only) and CD (6 CD set) formats.
List price for the book is $24.95, for the CDs $29.95
You can get the book here and save yourself $5, or get the CDs and save $6.
This is new stuff, so I haven't yet read or listened, but love Marianne's other works so I'm betting it is great. Plus, if Oprah likes it... ;-)
Happy Thanksgiving
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Oprah Discovers Secret to Permanent Weight Loss
Since I Tivo just about everything I watch on television, it isn't often that I even watch a show the day that it airs. I am glad I watched yesterday because of the "humdinger follow up" on a woman named Katherine who had lost 175 pounds.
8 years ago Katherine was featured on the show and amidst all the applause she vowed she would never be fat again. Who among us who has dropped unwanted pounds has not made a similar pledge? I know I sure have.
Like me, Katherine did not keep that vow. In Katherine's case she gained almost all her weight back after keeping it off for 7 or 8 years. In my case, many years ago, I gained more weight than I had lost as I catapulted my "weigh" up higher and higher on the scale.
Katherine has once again lost a significant amount of weight--over 100 pounds. No mean feat, that. But what I found most interesting was that both she and Oprah could have been quoting from my book, Refuse to Diet: Weight Loss Success Starts with Your Mind...Not Your Mouth, as they discussed coming to peace with food and their bodies.
Oprah, Katherine, and I all realize that it is about loving yourself as you are in this very moment that matters. You may be at the beginning of your weight loss journey or nearing your goal...no matter where you are it is imperative that you love yourself now rather than deciding you will be worthy of that love only when you are slender.
I write about this in depth in my book, and give you tools to help achieve this...because for most of us, it is a big challenge to love ourselves when we neither look nor feel our best. After all, we have loads of practice hating ourselves and berating our bodies.
As Katherine said, she used to look in the mirror and say negative things about herself. "You disgust me," for example is a phrase we often say, or "I hate my hips" or thighs or (insert detested body part here.)
I loved that Katherine was able to use the example of her not-so-tiny hips...and she said, "these hips birthed my children...these hips carry me around so that I can be with the people I love."
This is an excellent example of turning our thoughts around...finding the positive aspect of that body. We must begin to learn to shower our body with loving thoughts and energy if we truly want to have weight loss success...at least if we truly want permanent results.
It starts with loving ourselves. Without that, we doom ourselves to an unhealthy body and life. Oh, some people may lose weight, and like Katherine they may even be able to keep it off for years...but without that deep self-love and acceptance we will turn to destructive behaviors. It may be eating or it may take another form, but we cannot possibly live our lives to their fullest potential when we dislike ourselves. We will create something to really not like ourselves for...and then learning to love ourselves becomes even more of a challenge.
If you truly want permanent weight loss, start with your mind and loving yourself. That is more important (and works a lot better) than any diet, counting calories/carbs/fat grams or exercise program! So declare after me, "I REFUSE to diet" and watch those pounds melt away through the power of love!
8 years ago Katherine was featured on the show and amidst all the applause she vowed she would never be fat again. Who among us who has dropped unwanted pounds has not made a similar pledge? I know I sure have.
Like me, Katherine did not keep that vow. In Katherine's case she gained almost all her weight back after keeping it off for 7 or 8 years. In my case, many years ago, I gained more weight than I had lost as I catapulted my "weigh" up higher and higher on the scale.
Katherine has once again lost a significant amount of weight--over 100 pounds. No mean feat, that. But what I found most interesting was that both she and Oprah could have been quoting from my book, Refuse to Diet: Weight Loss Success Starts with Your Mind...Not Your Mouth, as they discussed coming to peace with food and their bodies.
Oprah, Katherine, and I all realize that it is about loving yourself as you are in this very moment that matters. You may be at the beginning of your weight loss journey or nearing your goal...no matter where you are it is imperative that you love yourself now rather than deciding you will be worthy of that love only when you are slender.
I write about this in depth in my book, and give you tools to help achieve this...because for most of us, it is a big challenge to love ourselves when we neither look nor feel our best. After all, we have loads of practice hating ourselves and berating our bodies.
As Katherine said, she used to look in the mirror and say negative things about herself. "You disgust me," for example is a phrase we often say, or "I hate my hips" or thighs or (insert detested body part here.)
I loved that Katherine was able to use the example of her not-so-tiny hips...and she said, "these hips birthed my children...these hips carry me around so that I can be with the people I love."
This is an excellent example of turning our thoughts around...finding the positive aspect of that body. We must begin to learn to shower our body with loving thoughts and energy if we truly want to have weight loss success...at least if we truly want permanent results.
It starts with loving ourselves. Without that, we doom ourselves to an unhealthy body and life. Oh, some people may lose weight, and like Katherine they may even be able to keep it off for years...but without that deep self-love and acceptance we will turn to destructive behaviors. It may be eating or it may take another form, but we cannot possibly live our lives to their fullest potential when we dislike ourselves. We will create something to really not like ourselves for...and then learning to love ourselves becomes even more of a challenge.
If you truly want permanent weight loss, start with your mind and loving yourself. That is more important (and works a lot better) than any diet, counting calories/carbs/fat grams or exercise program! So declare after me, "I REFUSE to diet" and watch those pounds melt away through the power of love!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Oh No! I Have to Lose 125 Pounds AGAIN!?!
Boy, is this overwhelming...there is so much to do...so far to go...how on earth am I going to achieve this goal?
I didn't gain 125 pounds overnight...and no, I won't drop it overnight, or in a weekend either...but where to begin? This excess has been accumulating for years and years.
This weekend I vowed to make huge progress...and by last night I was exhausted, drained and demoralized when my results did not seem to match my efforts...
I took a good look around and realized there is excess all over...top to bottom...I've always put on weight all over, but with extra padding going to my thighs.
This time the weight settled mostly in my basement...literally!
I have been gathering "stuff" for a long time...maybe because I moved so much as a kid and had to throw stuff away...but I have boxes and boxes of stuff that is cluttering my life.
I've watched shows and read books about how to handle it, and it is exciting, scary, overwhelming and liberating to watch as people like Peter Walsh (Oprah show clutter guru) help declutter viewers in a matter of days...kind of The Biggest Loser for your stuff!
Well, for me, trying to do this on my own was daunting and seemingly impossible.
This morning I woke up with a huge Ah Ha! This is so like losing weight...okay, I know other people have said the clutter in our homes can be a reflection of the clutter in our minds and bodies, but the PROCESS of getting rid of it is also the same...you can't just throw it all away in a weekend and expect the results to be permanent.
When I looked at losing 125 pounds of body fat it seemed overwhelming. I kept putting it off because it just didn't seem possible. I tried and failed, tried and failed, tried and failed so often that I began to believe I was a failure and that I would never have a healthy, slender body.
Weight loss success came when I changed my mindset. I began to believe that it just might be possible to lose weight and I chose to move towards HEALTH and make small changes that I could maintain.
The realization came that if I approach my basement clutter in the same way I can have success there, too! I'm moving towards health, freedom, and mobility. Some of that is figurative, but it is also literal. I've contemplated moving closer to my mom...but that thought is depressing when I think about all the c*&p I'd have to pack or get rid of...so by going through it NOW, bit by bit, I will gain the power and freedom to move if that's what is the right thing for me and her.
Instead of dieting, rather than focusing on the entire 125 pounds, or 125 boxes, I will celebrate each box...and if an entire box is too much, I will celebrate with each item that is removed from my house!
Whether you want to successfully lose excess fat or stuff...it takes mindset first, and small, consistent steps in the direction you want to go.
You CAN do it.
Celebrate every success.
It isn't a competition...it is about your life!
To healthy, energetic & slender bodies...and the houses they live in!
I didn't gain 125 pounds overnight...and no, I won't drop it overnight, or in a weekend either...but where to begin? This excess has been accumulating for years and years.
This weekend I vowed to make huge progress...and by last night I was exhausted, drained and demoralized when my results did not seem to match my efforts...
I took a good look around and realized there is excess all over...top to bottom...I've always put on weight all over, but with extra padding going to my thighs.
This time the weight settled mostly in my basement...literally!
I have been gathering "stuff" for a long time...maybe because I moved so much as a kid and had to throw stuff away...but I have boxes and boxes of stuff that is cluttering my life.
I've watched shows and read books about how to handle it, and it is exciting, scary, overwhelming and liberating to watch as people like Peter Walsh (Oprah show clutter guru) help declutter viewers in a matter of days...kind of The Biggest Loser for your stuff!
Well, for me, trying to do this on my own was daunting and seemingly impossible.
This morning I woke up with a huge Ah Ha! This is so like losing weight...okay, I know other people have said the clutter in our homes can be a reflection of the clutter in our minds and bodies, but the PROCESS of getting rid of it is also the same...you can't just throw it all away in a weekend and expect the results to be permanent.
When I looked at losing 125 pounds of body fat it seemed overwhelming. I kept putting it off because it just didn't seem possible. I tried and failed, tried and failed, tried and failed so often that I began to believe I was a failure and that I would never have a healthy, slender body.
Weight loss success came when I changed my mindset. I began to believe that it just might be possible to lose weight and I chose to move towards HEALTH and make small changes that I could maintain.
The realization came that if I approach my basement clutter in the same way I can have success there, too! I'm moving towards health, freedom, and mobility. Some of that is figurative, but it is also literal. I've contemplated moving closer to my mom...but that thought is depressing when I think about all the c*&p I'd have to pack or get rid of...so by going through it NOW, bit by bit, I will gain the power and freedom to move if that's what is the right thing for me and her.
Instead of dieting, rather than focusing on the entire 125 pounds, or 125 boxes, I will celebrate each box...and if an entire box is too much, I will celebrate with each item that is removed from my house!
Whether you want to successfully lose excess fat or stuff...it takes mindset first, and small, consistent steps in the direction you want to go.
You CAN do it.
Celebrate every success.
It isn't a competition...it is about your life!
To healthy, energetic & slender bodies...and the houses they live in!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Celebrity Weight Loss Week: It's a Wrap with a Little Ham and Cheese
This has been a fun week looking at various celebrities and their weight loss successes and challenges. Big & beautiful Mo'Nique, Kirstie Alley's poised for her new show, Kate Winslet avoiding excessive dieting and exercise, and the big winner Abby...we have been able to learn something from all these amazing women.
In the past I've also blogged about other celebs and their weight loss, or position on dieting...recently Taylor Swift declared she refuses to diet, Valerie Bertinelli revealed her new slender bod on the Oprah show, Star Jones talked about her weight loss surgery, and Marie Osmond discussed her healthy "large" size 2/4 body....
Clearly, having money and fame does not guarantee you a healthy and fit body. Nor does it guarantee that if you do get fat you will have weight loss success. Women like Kirstie and Oprah can afford trainers and chefs, and still they struggle with their weight.
But we can also see that weight loss success is possible when we approach for our selves our health--not for our network...whether that netowrk is CBS, NBC or Family&Friends. If takes a shift in mindset!
Each of these women who have successfully dropped excess fat has said it...it isn't about going on a "diet"...it is about changing your thinking and making small changes in your life.
These people have DONE it differently...wrapped the mindset up with different tools...maybe a diet coach or an exercise coach...but before they could do that work they had to change who they were BEing on the inside.
I hope I'm wrong in my concers about Kirsties. I want her to succeed...permanently. I don't want to see her not lose weight, nor do I want to see her gain it all back...but she hasn't revealed to me the mindset shift yet. Until she does, I fear she will only have short-term results at best.
To these other fantastic women--keep doing what you are doing. Your weight loss success inspries us, helps us remember beauty comes in packages of all shapes and sizes. You help us know we too can have a healthy, energetic, beautiful body.
What did you think about this week's theme?
Did any of the celebrites speak to you? Did you identify with any of them?
In the past I've also blogged about other celebs and their weight loss, or position on dieting...recently Taylor Swift declared she refuses to diet, Valerie Bertinelli revealed her new slender bod on the Oprah show, Star Jones talked about her weight loss surgery, and Marie Osmond discussed her healthy "large" size 2/4 body....
Clearly, having money and fame does not guarantee you a healthy and fit body. Nor does it guarantee that if you do get fat you will have weight loss success. Women like Kirstie and Oprah can afford trainers and chefs, and still they struggle with their weight.
But we can also see that weight loss success is possible when we approach for our selves our health--not for our network...whether that netowrk is CBS, NBC or Family&Friends. If takes a shift in mindset!
Each of these women who have successfully dropped excess fat has said it...it isn't about going on a "diet"...it is about changing your thinking and making small changes in your life.
These people have DONE it differently...wrapped the mindset up with different tools...maybe a diet coach or an exercise coach...but before they could do that work they had to change who they were BEing on the inside.
I hope I'm wrong in my concers about Kirsties. I want her to succeed...permanently. I don't want to see her not lose weight, nor do I want to see her gain it all back...but she hasn't revealed to me the mindset shift yet. Until she does, I fear she will only have short-term results at best.
To these other fantastic women--keep doing what you are doing. Your weight loss success inspries us, helps us remember beauty comes in packages of all shapes and sizes. You help us know we too can have a healthy, energetic, beautiful body.
What did you think about this week's theme?
Did any of the celebrites speak to you? Did you identify with any of them?
- Mo'Nique: Bid and beautiful: dropping weight for health and longevity
- Kirstie: Putting her health on hold: are you waiting for the perfect moment to start
- Kate: No Slave to the gym: balancing her health with a your family and career
- Abby: Releasing the pain gain: removing the insulating layer, willing to feel and live again
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Celebrity Weight Loss Week: Kirstie Alley, Another Roller Coaster Ride Ahead?
Continuing the celebrity weight loss week theme, we are coming back to a familiar face--Kirstie Alley. Anyone who has struggled with weight can identify with Kirstie's very public battles. My question is this--has Kirstie put her health at risk by putting her weight loss success on hold? Or will her plan for televised weight loss be a big inspiration and success?
In April, Kirstie Alley was on the Oprah Winfrey Show claiming she had discovered the secret to weight loss success--and that by Novemeber, she would be back on the show wearing a bikini. (She appeared on the show along with Micheal Hebrenko who also famously yo-yo dieted.)
Well, it is November...Kirstie was back and jokingly had a bikini on over her clothes...as it does not appear that her body has changed much, if at all.
She still believes she has the secret to weight loss success--so what gives? She claims that she had proposed a television show to document her weight loss progress and the networks told her to stop losing weight because that's what they would be paying for. Theoretically the deal was signed just the night before her return visit to Oprah's set.
What do you think? Will she succeed? Will she have success at losing weight? At her show? At both?
People love to see inside glimpses of a celebrity's life...and they love to see that they are human, with foibles and weaknesses, just like "real" people. Given that, and the success of other celebrity reality shows, she has a good chance of a show success.
Is her chance of weight loss success as good? Statistically, no. However, being followed around by cameras all the time might do it...although I hear that after a while you get used to them and don't even "see" them...as hard as I find that to believe, I suppose that is possible. If it is, then the cameras themselves won't be much deterrent or encouragement.
Public accountability for some people is huge...and maybe that is what will be the key for Kirstie's success (I truly hope she has success, in case you aren't sure)...but I am concerned. Get your weight loss inspiration however you can...whatever works for you, as long as it is healthy.
I believe Kirstie CAN lose weight...I know we all can. My concern is that she is setting herself up for another roller coaster ride because she is insisting that it be "fast and fun"...from my experience permanent weight loss can be fun...but it isn't necessarily fast...because you have to make permanent changes to achieve permanent results!
I'm also concerned because Kirstie was willing to put her health (and goals) on hold until a network decided they would cover her progress. To me this doesn't bode well. It sounds like the classic, "hey, I'll start tomorrow because today is (fill in the blank.")
Even Oprah seemed skeptical, "you can't lose weight for a network!" Absolutely! We can all be inspired to take control of our lives, to be healthy, and to drop excess fat...for US.
Kirstie waited 7 months for a network. What are you waiting for? What "network" is stopping you from your health and weight loss success? When will you decide that you deserve health, that you CAN have it? Change your mindset--it is the first step to permanent health and weight loss success!
Check in tomorrow when another beautiful star speaks out against diet and exercise...
In April, Kirstie Alley was on the Oprah Winfrey Show claiming she had discovered the secret to weight loss success--and that by Novemeber, she would be back on the show wearing a bikini. (She appeared on the show along with Micheal Hebrenko who also famously yo-yo dieted.)
Well, it is November...Kirstie was back and jokingly had a bikini on over her clothes...as it does not appear that her body has changed much, if at all.
She still believes she has the secret to weight loss success--so what gives? She claims that she had proposed a television show to document her weight loss progress and the networks told her to stop losing weight because that's what they would be paying for. Theoretically the deal was signed just the night before her return visit to Oprah's set.
What do you think? Will she succeed? Will she have success at losing weight? At her show? At both?
People love to see inside glimpses of a celebrity's life...and they love to see that they are human, with foibles and weaknesses, just like "real" people. Given that, and the success of other celebrity reality shows, she has a good chance of a show success.
Is her chance of weight loss success as good? Statistically, no. However, being followed around by cameras all the time might do it...although I hear that after a while you get used to them and don't even "see" them...as hard as I find that to believe, I suppose that is possible. If it is, then the cameras themselves won't be much deterrent or encouragement.
Public accountability for some people is huge...and maybe that is what will be the key for Kirstie's success (I truly hope she has success, in case you aren't sure)...but I am concerned. Get your weight loss inspiration however you can...whatever works for you, as long as it is healthy.
I believe Kirstie CAN lose weight...I know we all can. My concern is that she is setting herself up for another roller coaster ride because she is insisting that it be "fast and fun"...from my experience permanent weight loss can be fun...but it isn't necessarily fast...because you have to make permanent changes to achieve permanent results!
I'm also concerned because Kirstie was willing to put her health (and goals) on hold until a network decided they would cover her progress. To me this doesn't bode well. It sounds like the classic, "hey, I'll start tomorrow because today is (fill in the blank.")
Even Oprah seemed skeptical, "you can't lose weight for a network!" Absolutely! We can all be inspired to take control of our lives, to be healthy, and to drop excess fat...for US.
Kirstie waited 7 months for a network. What are you waiting for? What "network" is stopping you from your health and weight loss success? When will you decide that you deserve health, that you CAN have it? Change your mindset--it is the first step to permanent health and weight loss success!
Check in tomorrow when another beautiful star speaks out against diet and exercise...
Monday, November 9, 2009
Celebrity Weight Loss Week: Inspirational Mo'Nique
This week's theme is celebrity weight loss...successes, inspirations, and thought-provoking. There has been so much in the news lately about this topic...we can definitely learn from all of it!
Comedian Mo'Nique was on both the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Ellen DeGeneres Show last week. She was promoting her new movie, Precious, but another big topic was her recent weight loss success. Seeing the clip from the movie and then her in real life now you couldn't NOT see the difference.
The reason I find Mo'Nique to be a weight loss inspiration is her attitude. She was very happy with her appearance at 262 pounds...she say a "big sex kitten" when she looked in the mirror. Her husband gave her the health wakeup call however. He loved her as she was...and was concerned for her health...so he said to her 262 was too much, adding, "I want you around forever."
She could have gotten pissed off, taken this comment to mean he didn't really love her, or didn't find her attractive...she could have chosen to allow his comment to alter her perception of herself as a big sex kitten. She chose instead to hear the love in his words, and to do something about it. She is still an ample woman...a big and beautiful woman...who is now considerably healthier.
Mo'Nique took some flack from some of her fans...they liked her large. I love that she looks them in the eye (albeit through the camera lens) and asks them if they would like her dead!
We can all take a cue from this weight loss inspiration...be comfortable in our body, no matter our size. See the beauty that we all have in us, and still go for improved health.
Congratulations Mo'Nique. Not only are you a funny woman, now you are a healthy role-model for others...thanks, from the bottom of my healthy heart!
Celebrity Weight Loss Week continues tomorrow...with more lessons we can learn from a "larger-than-life" star!
Comedian Mo'Nique was on both the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Ellen DeGeneres Show last week. She was promoting her new movie, Precious, but another big topic was her recent weight loss success. Seeing the clip from the movie and then her in real life now you couldn't NOT see the difference.
The reason I find Mo'Nique to be a weight loss inspiration is her attitude. She was very happy with her appearance at 262 pounds...she say a "big sex kitten" when she looked in the mirror. Her husband gave her the health wakeup call however. He loved her as she was...and was concerned for her health...so he said to her 262 was too much, adding, "I want you around forever."
She could have gotten pissed off, taken this comment to mean he didn't really love her, or didn't find her attractive...she could have chosen to allow his comment to alter her perception of herself as a big sex kitten. She chose instead to hear the love in his words, and to do something about it. She is still an ample woman...a big and beautiful woman...who is now considerably healthier.
Mo'Nique took some flack from some of her fans...they liked her large. I love that she looks them in the eye (albeit through the camera lens) and asks them if they would like her dead!
We can all take a cue from this weight loss inspiration...be comfortable in our body, no matter our size. See the beauty that we all have in us, and still go for improved health.
Congratulations Mo'Nique. Not only are you a funny woman, now you are a healthy role-model for others...thanks, from the bottom of my healthy heart!
Celebrity Weight Loss Week continues tomorrow...with more lessons we can learn from a "larger-than-life" star!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Weight Loss Success Tip: No Fat No Stick Secret
Here's a hot cooking tip--
Prevent foods from sticking in the pan Chef Tal Ronnen suggests using salt! No fat, no cholesterol...but what do you expect from the vegan chef recently seen on the Oprah Winfrey Show--
OH WAIT! Chef Tal DOES use fat! Just vegan fats!
You can get some of Chef Tal's recipes by going to Oprah.com. He has created a 21 day cleanse to help get rid of the "gunk" (don't you love when I talk technical?) from your body.
Chef Tal has also written a cook book, The Conscious Chef, filled with ways that you can eat in a healthy way, using vegetable based foods that taste like chicken, pork and beef! If you are looking for a gift for yourself, your family, or your favorite foodies...this is the cookbook to get!
No, you don't have to become a vegan to lose weight...but eating "closer to the earth" is good for our bodies, and for the earth!
Prevent foods from sticking in the pan Chef Tal Ronnen suggests using salt! No fat, no cholesterol...but what do you expect from the vegan chef recently seen on the Oprah Winfrey Show--
OH WAIT! Chef Tal DOES use fat! Just vegan fats!
You can get some of Chef Tal's recipes by going to Oprah.com. He has created a 21 day cleanse to help get rid of the "gunk" (don't you love when I talk technical?) from your body.
Chef Tal has also written a cook book, The Conscious Chef, filled with ways that you can eat in a healthy way, using vegetable based foods that taste like chicken, pork and beef! If you are looking for a gift for yourself, your family, or your favorite foodies...this is the cookbook to get!
No, you don't have to become a vegan to lose weight...but eating "closer to the earth" is good for our bodies, and for the earth!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Are Oprah & Dr Oz Really Suing?
I'm an admitted skeptic when it comes to any "news reports" dealing with celebrities...but I'm hoping this one is true! I'm going off on a bit of a tangent here...I hope you will stick with me as I weave around weight loss a bit...
According to Yahoo News 2 days ago Oprah and Dr. Oz are suing companies who falsely claim that either big "O" is endorsing their product. You can read the story by clicking here.
I have been wondering for a long time how these people get away with it. Do they think that celebrities don't care about how their names are used? Do they think they are so small that no one will notice?
Referencing a show that was aired, a comment that was made on the show...that is one thing--as long as it is an accurate representation of what was said, or your own commentary sparked by the show for example. But to actually misrepresent your product in an attempt to mislead people into believing Oprah or Dr. Oz (or anyone else for that matter) endorsed it is so wrong.
Look, I'm no celebrity...but I have my philosophy about weight loss, eating right, and what it takes and doesn't take...and I don't want someone claiming that I've endorsed their product, service or choice if I haven't! That actually happened to me recently and it really ticked me off. Someone quoted me saying something that there is no way I would say...on a subject within nutrition that I know nothing about. And if it can happen to me, then I can just imagine the hay day (or is it hey day??? I've never known...I should look it up, but I'm on a roll here...) that unscrupulous people have with someone as visible as Oprah.
My theory is to treat people fairly. Be honest. What you do, who you are, and how you treat people will come back to/at you at some point. You might gain in the short term...but in the long run it will hurt you.
For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time then you know I admire and reference Oprah and Dr. Oz from time to time. I don't always agree with them, but I do admire them. I know that Oprah cares about people and I believe from what I have read and seen of her over the years that she wants people to be healthy...I've seen her endorse a lot of things, but I have never heard her endorse any particular weight loss program, pill or diet other than Bob Greene's approach. Now, I haven't watched 100% of her shows, but that's what I've seen.
I've seen her mention other programs on the show. For example in her famous before/after shows many times the guest will reveal the name of the program they followed. Another example was when Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli, Marie Osmond and Star Jones were on (you may remember my comments on that!) they mentioned the programs they followed. I do not believe Oprah endorsed any of the programs that were followed--nor did she dismiss them--they were simply tools that those particular guests used to accomplish their goals.
So if she isn't going to endorse these programs that were successful for her guests, why would she endorse something that she hasn't brought up on the show or in her magazine? Or has she? If you know different let me know!
Here's the bottom line--there are a lot of weight loss programs and products out there. I've personally used many of them without success. That doesn't mean they don't work or can't help people...at least for a while. I know what works for me is working on my mindset first and foremost. By doing that, the rest of it falls into place. That is what enabled me to drop 125 pounds--changing what is going on between my ears.
Will I ever be on Oprah? Maybe, maybe not...I did she on Oprah.com a reference to "Think Yourself Thin"--someone else's program--so perhaps we are on the same page, or at least the same book. But I'm not going to try to claim that Oprah has read MY book or agrees with MY philosophy or has used any of my tools. (Believe me, if she did I would be thrilled to be able to!!!)
I figure there are lots of programs and lots of people who want help to gain health. We don't need to lie about what we are doing. If people buy our system, either literally or figuratively, and it helps them then that's fantastic! If people don't want to buy it, that's okay too. I want to help people, but I know people have the best results when they make decisions based on their deepest desires, not what someone else thinks--even Oprah!
This is a very long way around to say--believe in yourself. Love yourself. Be true and honest in who you are. That is really what Refuse to Diet is all about. You must learn to love yourself and believe in yourself in order to successfully, permanently lose weight. You must be honest about what you eat and do...that means you must be conscious about your food intake...you have to look in the mirror and learn why you are eating, why you are holding onto the fat...when you can do that, then you will be able to see it drop away like I have.
It is all up to you. And it starts with love!
According to Yahoo News 2 days ago Oprah and Dr. Oz are suing companies who falsely claim that either big "O" is endorsing their product. You can read the story by clicking here.
I have been wondering for a long time how these people get away with it. Do they think that celebrities don't care about how their names are used? Do they think they are so small that no one will notice?
Referencing a show that was aired, a comment that was made on the show...that is one thing--as long as it is an accurate representation of what was said, or your own commentary sparked by the show for example. But to actually misrepresent your product in an attempt to mislead people into believing Oprah or Dr. Oz (or anyone else for that matter) endorsed it is so wrong.
Look, I'm no celebrity...but I have my philosophy about weight loss, eating right, and what it takes and doesn't take...and I don't want someone claiming that I've endorsed their product, service or choice if I haven't! That actually happened to me recently and it really ticked me off. Someone quoted me saying something that there is no way I would say...on a subject within nutrition that I know nothing about. And if it can happen to me, then I can just imagine the hay day (or is it hey day??? I've never known...I should look it up, but I'm on a roll here...) that unscrupulous people have with someone as visible as Oprah.
My theory is to treat people fairly. Be honest. What you do, who you are, and how you treat people will come back to/at you at some point. You might gain in the short term...but in the long run it will hurt you.
For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time then you know I admire and reference Oprah and Dr. Oz from time to time. I don't always agree with them, but I do admire them. I know that Oprah cares about people and I believe from what I have read and seen of her over the years that she wants people to be healthy...I've seen her endorse a lot of things, but I have never heard her endorse any particular weight loss program, pill or diet other than Bob Greene's approach. Now, I haven't watched 100% of her shows, but that's what I've seen.
I've seen her mention other programs on the show. For example in her famous before/after shows many times the guest will reveal the name of the program they followed. Another example was when Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli, Marie Osmond and Star Jones were on (you may remember my comments on that!) they mentioned the programs they followed. I do not believe Oprah endorsed any of the programs that were followed--nor did she dismiss them--they were simply tools that those particular guests used to accomplish their goals.
So if she isn't going to endorse these programs that were successful for her guests, why would she endorse something that she hasn't brought up on the show or in her magazine? Or has she? If you know different let me know!
Here's the bottom line--there are a lot of weight loss programs and products out there. I've personally used many of them without success. That doesn't mean they don't work or can't help people...at least for a while. I know what works for me is working on my mindset first and foremost. By doing that, the rest of it falls into place. That is what enabled me to drop 125 pounds--changing what is going on between my ears.
Will I ever be on Oprah? Maybe, maybe not...I did she on Oprah.com a reference to "Think Yourself Thin"--someone else's program--so perhaps we are on the same page, or at least the same book. But I'm not going to try to claim that Oprah has read MY book or agrees with MY philosophy or has used any of my tools. (Believe me, if she did I would be thrilled to be able to!!!)
I figure there are lots of programs and lots of people who want help to gain health. We don't need to lie about what we are doing. If people buy our system, either literally or figuratively, and it helps them then that's fantastic! If people don't want to buy it, that's okay too. I want to help people, but I know people have the best results when they make decisions based on their deepest desires, not what someone else thinks--even Oprah!
This is a very long way around to say--believe in yourself. Love yourself. Be true and honest in who you are. That is really what Refuse to Diet is all about. You must learn to love yourself and believe in yourself in order to successfully, permanently lose weight. You must be honest about what you eat and do...that means you must be conscious about your food intake...you have to look in the mirror and learn why you are eating, why you are holding onto the fat...when you can do that, then you will be able to see it drop away like I have.
It is all up to you. And it starts with love!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thank You Oprah! Celebrity Weight Loss Show
This is the conclusion to a series sparked by the recent Oprah Winfrey Show episode on celebrities struggling with their weight, featuring Valerie Bertinelli, Marie Osmond and Star Jones.
Thank you Oprah for the continued inspiration you provide for us to be healthy--physically and emotionally.
I applaud you for putting a spotlight on an issue that plagues many of us. Whether we struggle with 10 pounds or 100.
It is wonderful to have a pubic example of a successful person who "has it all" and yet still faces this challenge.
You allow us to be a bit gentler on ourselves while still encouraging us to take steps towards our best health.
You demonstrate for us that we can be beautiful and successful at any size. That we can love ourselves and still push to make ourselves even better.
By having guests of different sizes, following different programs you help us to remember there is not one single right answer for everyone (as much as you love Bob Greene.)
While we can learn from all of your guests, the diversity you bring to us gives us the opportunity to find someone who we resonate with and can emulate.
Let us all be loved and love ourselves, no matter our size. At the same time, let us love ourselves enough to want to be around enjoying life for many, many years to come.
With that desire and goal in mind, we can and WILL achieve our health goals.
Thanks again Oprah--we love you!
Thank you Oprah for the continued inspiration you provide for us to be healthy--physically and emotionally.
I applaud you for putting a spotlight on an issue that plagues many of us. Whether we struggle with 10 pounds or 100.
It is wonderful to have a pubic example of a successful person who "has it all" and yet still faces this challenge.
You allow us to be a bit gentler on ourselves while still encouraging us to take steps towards our best health.
You demonstrate for us that we can be beautiful and successful at any size. That we can love ourselves and still push to make ourselves even better.
By having guests of different sizes, following different programs you help us to remember there is not one single right answer for everyone (as much as you love Bob Greene.)
While we can learn from all of your guests, the diversity you bring to us gives us the opportunity to find someone who we resonate with and can emulate.
Let us all be loved and love ourselves, no matter our size. At the same time, let us love ourselves enough to want to be around enjoying life for many, many years to come.
With that desire and goal in mind, we can and WILL achieve our health goals.
Thanks again Oprah--we love you!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Oprah Celebrity Weight Loss: Healthy Size is Not about a Number
Part 4 of a series sparked by the recent Oprah Winfrey Show episode on celebrities struggling with their weight, featuring Valerie Bertinelli, Marie Osmond and Star Jones.
Marie mentioned a couple of times that she is now a size 2/4. At first I rankled at that, because I knew a size 2/4 is not realistic for many women and because she mentioned it several times. Then I really listened and heard her say "that is a healthy size for me."
Did you catch that? A healthy size for her!!! She points out she has a delicate build. And frankly, in an industry where a lot of her colleagues are a size zero she is not considered skinny. OK...I am feeling better.
Another point that I caught--did you?--is that she said a size 2/4. That's not ONE size, that is a range! She said she fluctuates between the two sizes. Pretty liberating, isn't it?
Look, Marie and I are about the same height. She's 5-5" and I'm 5-6" (almost). That's about where the similarity ends.
I will never be a size 2/4. I am sure I have said that before. That is not a healthy size for me.
When I was extremely skinny (that lasted about 5 minutes in college) I did fit into a size 4 tennis dress--but my shoulder bones demanded a size 12 blouse!
So while a size 14 for Marie was what she wore at her heaviest--almost 50 pounds overweight--a size 14 for me would be a very healthy size for me!
Go for what is healthy for you. Don't aspire to be a size 2/4 if your build demands a 10 or 12 or 16!
Don't let anyone else tell you that there is some magic number on the scale or the rack that you have to fit into.
Please, let's all appreciate and love the diversity of our bodies!
Keep this in mind--Marie is a size 2/4 and weights 125lbs. My mother weighs 119lbs and is a size 10. I don't know what size Oprah was at her "skinniest" but she will tell you in photos where she is showing off her abs she was about 150lbs.
So go for and achieve healthy for YOU. It isn't about a number. It is about how you feel!
Marie mentioned a couple of times that she is now a size 2/4. At first I rankled at that, because I knew a size 2/4 is not realistic for many women and because she mentioned it several times. Then I really listened and heard her say "that is a healthy size for me."
Did you catch that? A healthy size for her!!! She points out she has a delicate build. And frankly, in an industry where a lot of her colleagues are a size zero she is not considered skinny. OK...I am feeling better.
Another point that I caught--did you?--is that she said a size 2/4. That's not ONE size, that is a range! She said she fluctuates between the two sizes. Pretty liberating, isn't it?
Look, Marie and I are about the same height. She's 5-5" and I'm 5-6" (almost). That's about where the similarity ends.
I will never be a size 2/4. I am sure I have said that before. That is not a healthy size for me.
When I was extremely skinny (that lasted about 5 minutes in college) I did fit into a size 4 tennis dress--but my shoulder bones demanded a size 12 blouse!
So while a size 14 for Marie was what she wore at her heaviest--almost 50 pounds overweight--a size 14 for me would be a very healthy size for me!
Go for what is healthy for you. Don't aspire to be a size 2/4 if your build demands a 10 or 12 or 16!
Don't let anyone else tell you that there is some magic number on the scale or the rack that you have to fit into.
Please, let's all appreciate and love the diversity of our bodies!
Keep this in mind--Marie is a size 2/4 and weights 125lbs. My mother weighs 119lbs and is a size 10. I don't know what size Oprah was at her "skinniest" but she will tell you in photos where she is showing off her abs she was about 150lbs.
So go for and achieve healthy for YOU. It isn't about a number. It is about how you feel!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Oprah Celebrity Weight Loss: Mindset First
Third in a series based on a recent Oprah Winfrey Show featuring celebrities who have struggled publicly with weight issues.
It was great to see other women roughly my age (okay, in their 40s) successfully lose weight. So many of us have bought into the idea that once we hit 40 we won't be able to achieve a healthy weight--I applaud these women for their success and providing proof that it is indeed possible to lose weight in our middle years.
Although the three celebrities featured, Valerie Bertinelli, Marie Osmond and Star Jones all used different tools on their journey they all had one thing in common that jumped out to me--they all said they had to change their mindset in order to have success!
You MUST become the healthy person in your mind FIRST so that you can maintain that weight. This process will continue to evolve and strengthen as you lose weight.
As Star Jones pointed our, she didn't even know what she would look like because she had been obese her entire adult life.
You don't have to see yourself as a size 2/4 ala Marie. Start by seeing yourself a size or 2 smaller than you are now. See yourself making healthy choices. See yourself happy and energetic.
This is truly where any successful, permanent weight loss program must start.
From there, you can choose a healthy food and or exercise plan (including surgery) that fits your needs, your goals, your life situation, to help accelerate your progress.
No matter what plan you choose--you have to ultimately learn how to eat on your own. There is no magic pill or surgery that does that for you.
Get education and tools to help you make healthy choices. This education may be part of a food program, or it may be separate.
Again, the most important place to start and to continue to focus is your mind...by putting the emphasis there you will empower yourself and ensure you success!
I'll repeat myself a bit because it is so important--Visualize yourself healthy. See yourself doing things free from the pain or challenges that the excess pounds create. Feel in your heart the joy and energy you have in your life and the gratitude for this 'new' life!
Tomorrow we'll continue this series with a discussion on what is a healthy size for you.
It was great to see other women roughly my age (okay, in their 40s) successfully lose weight. So many of us have bought into the idea that once we hit 40 we won't be able to achieve a healthy weight--I applaud these women for their success and providing proof that it is indeed possible to lose weight in our middle years.
Although the three celebrities featured, Valerie Bertinelli, Marie Osmond and Star Jones all used different tools on their journey they all had one thing in common that jumped out to me--they all said they had to change their mindset in order to have success!
You MUST become the healthy person in your mind FIRST so that you can maintain that weight. This process will continue to evolve and strengthen as you lose weight.
As Star Jones pointed our, she didn't even know what she would look like because she had been obese her entire adult life.
You don't have to see yourself as a size 2/4 ala Marie. Start by seeing yourself a size or 2 smaller than you are now. See yourself making healthy choices. See yourself happy and energetic.
This is truly where any successful, permanent weight loss program must start.
From there, you can choose a healthy food and or exercise plan (including surgery) that fits your needs, your goals, your life situation, to help accelerate your progress.
No matter what plan you choose--you have to ultimately learn how to eat on your own. There is no magic pill or surgery that does that for you.
Get education and tools to help you make healthy choices. This education may be part of a food program, or it may be separate.
Again, the most important place to start and to continue to focus is your mind...by putting the emphasis there you will empower yourself and ensure you success!
I'll repeat myself a bit because it is so important--Visualize yourself healthy. See yourself doing things free from the pain or challenges that the excess pounds create. Feel in your heart the joy and energy you have in your life and the gratitude for this 'new' life!
Tomorrow we'll continue this series with a discussion on what is a healthy size for you.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Oprah Celebrity Weight Loss Show: Public Accountability
Following up on yesterday's post about the recent Oprah Winfrey Show episode on Celebrity Weight Loss Struggles...
Both Valerie Bertinelli and Marie Osmond chose to make their weight loss very public when they chose to be spokes persons for Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem, respectively.
This public declaration has some risks to it. It did put some added pressure on them to stick with the program...and subject them to possible criticism if they didn't lose weight "fast enough" or lose "enough" weight or, Heaven forbid, they actually failed--dropped out of the program and gained weight!
It also provided them with a level of support! There were lots and lots of people really rooting for them and celebrating their success with them!
Well, you can make your own public declaration! The big advantage you have is that you get to choose who that public is!!!
You may want just one "accountability partner." Or you may prefer to announce your decision to a small (or large) group at work or in your neighborhood.
Unlike Valerie and Marie (don't you love that we are now on a first name basis?) because you get to select your 'public' you also get to tell them your goals and what support you want from them.
So make your "public" declaration, choose your support team and help them to help you by letting them know what support you want to receive!
Tomorrow I'll touch on one of the points that all three women had in common for their successful weight loss...
Both Valerie Bertinelli and Marie Osmond chose to make their weight loss very public when they chose to be spokes persons for Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem, respectively.
This public declaration has some risks to it. It did put some added pressure on them to stick with the program...and subject them to possible criticism if they didn't lose weight "fast enough" or lose "enough" weight or, Heaven forbid, they actually failed--dropped out of the program and gained weight!
It also provided them with a level of support! There were lots and lots of people really rooting for them and celebrating their success with them!
Well, you can make your own public declaration! The big advantage you have is that you get to choose who that public is!!!
You may want just one "accountability partner." Or you may prefer to announce your decision to a small (or large) group at work or in your neighborhood.
Unlike Valerie and Marie (don't you love that we are now on a first name basis?) because you get to select your 'public' you also get to tell them your goals and what support you want from them.
- Do you want people to monitor what you eat? (that doesn't work for me, but some people thrive on it)
- Do you want a cheering section?
- Do you want someone to call when you are facing a challenge?
- Do you want someone to call YOU on a regular basis to check in and see how you are doing?
- Do you want a workout buddy?
So make your "public" declaration, choose your support team and help them to help you by letting them know what support you want to receive!
Tomorrow I'll touch on one of the points that all three women had in common for their successful weight loss...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Oprah Celebrity Weight Loss Show
I rarely watch television live...my schedule just doesn't allow for that. So I tivo shows that interest me...like the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Recently Oprah featured three celebrities who have struggled with their weight--Marie Osmond, Valerie Bertinelli and Star Jones.
This single show has sparked several things in me and so this is the start of a series based on that one show and the stories these three women shared.
I get that this struggle about weight is tough for them because they are in the public eye. However, I really don't believe their struggles are any different than our own. Like everything else in the life of a celebrity, the scale is bigger--and I'm not talking about the one you step on Star.
Their very public struggle was precisely what gave them the opportunity to be on this show and to be a spokes person (or poster child) for a program. So while they didn't like the publicity when they were heavy, they chose to have it during this part of the journey. This may have been partly to keep them on the path (pubic accountability) and partly to help inspire others.
Whether you are in the view of the entire world, your town, your place of work, or just in view of your family and friends, the stresses of weight loss and gain are the same.
Some people will support you. Others won't believe you will make it--and if you do, they won't believe that you can keep it off. And still others will try to sabotage your efforts--either by bringing you "presents" or by pointing out your flaws--maybe 'thunder thighs' in a certain outfit--one that you were so proud to fit into. This would be our equivalent to the unflattering photos in the National Enquirer!
The bottom line is that you have to be the one who determines IF you will lose weight.
Someone else may help give you a wake up call, but you have to do it for yourself. Marie Osmond's kids may have told her that they want her to be around for her grandkids, but she had to want to make the change for herself in order for her to persevere and succeed.
Tomorrow we'll talk more about this public accountability and choosing your support group!
Recently Oprah featured three celebrities who have struggled with their weight--Marie Osmond, Valerie Bertinelli and Star Jones.
This single show has sparked several things in me and so this is the start of a series based on that one show and the stories these three women shared.
I get that this struggle about weight is tough for them because they are in the public eye. However, I really don't believe their struggles are any different than our own. Like everything else in the life of a celebrity, the scale is bigger--and I'm not talking about the one you step on Star.
Their very public struggle was precisely what gave them the opportunity to be on this show and to be a spokes person (or poster child) for a program. So while they didn't like the publicity when they were heavy, they chose to have it during this part of the journey. This may have been partly to keep them on the path (pubic accountability) and partly to help inspire others.
Whether you are in the view of the entire world, your town, your place of work, or just in view of your family and friends, the stresses of weight loss and gain are the same.
Some people will support you. Others won't believe you will make it--and if you do, they won't believe that you can keep it off. And still others will try to sabotage your efforts--either by bringing you "presents" or by pointing out your flaws--maybe 'thunder thighs' in a certain outfit--one that you were so proud to fit into. This would be our equivalent to the unflattering photos in the National Enquirer!
The bottom line is that you have to be the one who determines IF you will lose weight.
Someone else may help give you a wake up call, but you have to do it for yourself. Marie Osmond's kids may have told her that they want her to be around for her grandkids, but she had to want to make the change for herself in order for her to persevere and succeed.
Tomorrow we'll talk more about this public accountability and choosing your support group!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Oprah and Bob Greene Agree with Me!
If you watched the Oprah Show last week you know she started the season with her Best Life series and that she followed that up with live webcasts this week.
Monday featured Bob Greene. And he talked about how being overweight is not really a food issue, it is a Love or Worthiness issue. I have been saying this for a long time.
A couple points that they made that I found especially interesting--you can choose to look at excess weight as an opportunity to determine what is missing in your life. That falls in line with the food being used to self-medicate or to mask theory that I have. I've known for long time that food is my drug of choice. Oprah uses that phrase, too.
About worthiness, it is important to realize that anyone can have worthiness issues (even Oprah) about some facet of their lives. Even when we feel completely worth in one area it does not mean that we feel worthy in all areas.
Oprah asked us to look at our lives and determine where/when was it that we first got "imprinted with the idea" that we or our ideas were not as important as someone else's. Interesting question to ponder!
Bob mentioned that it most likely goes back to before you were 10 years old as that is when most of our "wiring" is set.
It isn't about blaming anyone--not your mother or your childhood--it is about self discovery. By discovering what we truly believe we then have the power to change it. By learning, "oh, that's why I believe that" we can frequently change it more easily! Knowledge is power!
If you didn't catch the webcast with Bob live, you can get the replay at www.Oprah.com
There was lots of good information and I would love to hear your comments on the show. Over the next couple of days I'll point out what I thought were some of the highlights.
Monday featured Bob Greene. And he talked about how being overweight is not really a food issue, it is a Love or Worthiness issue. I have been saying this for a long time.
A couple points that they made that I found especially interesting--you can choose to look at excess weight as an opportunity to determine what is missing in your life. That falls in line with the food being used to self-medicate or to mask theory that I have. I've known for long time that food is my drug of choice. Oprah uses that phrase, too.
About worthiness, it is important to realize that anyone can have worthiness issues (even Oprah) about some facet of their lives. Even when we feel completely worth in one area it does not mean that we feel worthy in all areas.
Oprah asked us to look at our lives and determine where/when was it that we first got "imprinted with the idea" that we or our ideas were not as important as someone else's. Interesting question to ponder!
Bob mentioned that it most likely goes back to before you were 10 years old as that is when most of our "wiring" is set.
It isn't about blaming anyone--not your mother or your childhood--it is about self discovery. By discovering what we truly believe we then have the power to change it. By learning, "oh, that's why I believe that" we can frequently change it more easily! Knowledge is power!
If you didn't catch the webcast with Bob live, you can get the replay at www.Oprah.com
There was lots of good information and I would love to hear your comments on the show. Over the next couple of days I'll point out what I thought were some of the highlights.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Oprah's Weight A Familiar Story
I love Oprah...not that I know her personally, but most of us feel like we know her since we have watched her on television and read her magazine for years.
Oprah has had many of the same weight struggles that I have had, with her own variations, of course. I am grateful that my struggles have not been in the eyes of over 2 million people!
I can relate when she says she is embarrassed by her recent weight gain...it does feel embarrassing to have made huge health gains, only to see them slip away. Been there, done that. More than once.
As embarrassing as it may feel, we should all take note that this is a lifetime journey, not a "once done never gotta worry about it again" event.
Sometimes a health issue, like thyroid in Oprah's case, is the cause. Other times an emotional upheaval disrupts our lives and we eat as a protective mechanism. That's what I did when I was going through my divorce.
The best thing we can do is get back on the health wagon as soon as possible. Keeping a positive attitude about it is crucial. Beating ourselves up over our past "failures" doesn't serve us. Let us learn from the experience and move forward.
So for all my friends out there,including my own self and those, like Oprah whom I have not actually met--let us love ourselves as we are, knowing that we are getting healthier and happier every day, and that it is our health rather than a number on the scale or dress size that is the important thing!
Oprah has had many of the same weight struggles that I have had, with her own variations, of course. I am grateful that my struggles have not been in the eyes of over 2 million people!
I can relate when she says she is embarrassed by her recent weight gain...it does feel embarrassing to have made huge health gains, only to see them slip away. Been there, done that. More than once.
As embarrassing as it may feel, we should all take note that this is a lifetime journey, not a "once done never gotta worry about it again" event.
Sometimes a health issue, like thyroid in Oprah's case, is the cause. Other times an emotional upheaval disrupts our lives and we eat as a protective mechanism. That's what I did when I was going through my divorce.
The best thing we can do is get back on the health wagon as soon as possible. Keeping a positive attitude about it is crucial. Beating ourselves up over our past "failures" doesn't serve us. Let us learn from the experience and move forward.
So for all my friends out there,including my own self and those, like Oprah whom I have not actually met--let us love ourselves as we are, knowing that we are getting healthier and happier every day, and that it is our health rather than a number on the scale or dress size that is the important thing!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Dr. Oz came to Town
Dr. Mehmet Oz came to Loveland, Colorado last week.
We have come to know him for his knowledge and his affable manner--showcased on the Oprah Winfrey show.
A lot of what he said was pretty basic--if you watched him on Oprah or read his book "You on a Diet" you will be familiar with his message.
A couple points especially bear repeating: remember you are in control of your health and health care. "Health care is personal", that includes taking responsibility for how you eat, exercise, asking questions of your doctor and getting second opinions! You are your best health advocate--don't leave it to someone else to take care of--"If you don't do it, no one is going to."
Dr. Oz suggests making transitions from your old habits to new, healthier ones over a period of at least two weeks. Good advice--that helps it seem like a progression rather than a "diet" or hardship! If it takes longer than 2 weeks, that's okay. Don't try to make all the changes at once--that just adds stress to your life.
What else--read labels and avoid if any of these are in the first 5 ingredients: sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, enriched flour, trans fats or saturated fats.
Keep water and a handful of nuts handy. Get plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
And remember to breathe!
We have come to know him for his knowledge and his affable manner--showcased on the Oprah Winfrey show.
A lot of what he said was pretty basic--if you watched him on Oprah or read his book "You on a Diet" you will be familiar with his message.
A couple points especially bear repeating: remember you are in control of your health and health care. "Health care is personal", that includes taking responsibility for how you eat, exercise, asking questions of your doctor and getting second opinions! You are your best health advocate--don't leave it to someone else to take care of--"If you don't do it, no one is going to."
Dr. Oz suggests making transitions from your old habits to new, healthier ones over a period of at least two weeks. Good advice--that helps it seem like a progression rather than a "diet" or hardship! If it takes longer than 2 weeks, that's okay. Don't try to make all the changes at once--that just adds stress to your life.
What else--read labels and avoid if any of these are in the first 5 ingredients: sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, enriched flour, trans fats or saturated fats.
Keep water and a handful of nuts handy. Get plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
And remember to breathe!
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