Weight Loss Tip: Go for Color

One of the easiest ways to make sure you are getting a good balance of nutritional elements is to have lots and lots of color in your diet. That is a super tip for losing weight, too, because in general if it is naturally colorful it tends to be lower in calories and fat.

Of course there are exceptions...like my personal favorite, ice cream...it can often have a lot of color to it, even if it is all natural. But the added sugar and fat doesn't make it the healthiest choice...at least not for every meal, every day!

The point is to move away from the bland, beige meals. Enjoy the rainbow...either in a meal, a day, or over the course of several days.

Today was a "red letter day" for me...

What do I mean by a red letter day? Well I had lots of red foods, of course. This gave me great taste, good complex carbohydrates and lots of lycopene for good measure!

I had broiled Provencale tomatoes and beets for example. I love how easy they are and how you can take advantage of a hot oven created for one to make the other!

If you've only ever had pickled beets, give baked beets a try. I'm not fond of pickled beets but I love beets baked or boiled.

Baked Beets
Heat the oven to 350.
Wash the beets and clip off the greens, leaving about an inch or two on the beet. Do not remove the root.
Place the beets into an oven proof dish (with a lid) in a single layer.
Add a small amount of butter or olive oil and salt & pepper if desired...or just leave them plain.
Bake in the oven until tender. The time will depend on 1) the size of the beet and 2) the age of the beet. The younger the beets the less time it will take (maybe under 1 hour) Older beets will take longer.
Once the beets are done, I like to cut off the root and the remaining top and peel them before serving. But beets are great cold, so if you cook extra leave them unpeeled and store in the frig. They can be added to soups, salads, salsa...just about anything you want a little color on.

Provencale Tomatoes
Turn oven to broil.
Slice tomatoes into thick pieces.
Place on a broiler pan.
Brush a very light bit of olive oil on the tomatoes.
Sprinkle with herbs and spices. I love Herbs de Provence and a little pepper, but you can try Italian Seasoning or salt-free Spike or any herbs you prefer. Since tomatoes are naturally high in sodium I do not recommend using any salt on your tomatoes.
Place the tray in the broiler for about 10 minutes.
Keep an eye on the tray as everyone's ovens are different.
Serve the tomatoes hot.

You can serve the tomatoes as the main vegetable or sprinkled with feta cheese for a light lunch.

Maybe tomorrow I'll "go green".

Mega-Doses of Love

This is a continuation of Make Love Not War post from Mar 13...the idea being that we tend to fight and criticize ourselves...today we talk specifically how to change that so we can be our healthiest selves possible (and that includes achieving our weight loss goals!)

The way to combat negative thoughts is with mega-doses of love.

First, be aware of the negative thought and break the habit. Tony Robbins calls it pattern interrupt--do something to help reinforce a change. A rubber band around the wrist that you snap whenever you notice a negative thought can give a small uncomfortable sensation ("negative association") that will help remind you to not be negative.

Be sure to follow that up with a positive thought or affirmation and a gentle loving sensation ("positive reinforcement") which could be as simple as rubbing the same wrist gently.

In order for this to work you need to have at least one thing you can say positive about yourself--

My challenge for you today is to find one thing about yourself that you love (or at least like--more than one is great, but get at least one). Think of something you are grateful for that you do or quality you have. If you absolutely cannot think of anything you already are or do, then where is it that you want to go? And have your positive be about that...for example, "I am open to the possibility of attaining health". There are a lot of people who are not open to it--so that is a wonderful attribut.

Practice your pattern interrupt...it can be with the rubberband or just with words. T Harv Eker uses the rubberband technique but also suggest saying "cancel, cancel" whenever a negative thought comes into your head, and immediately replacing it with a positive one.

A good thing to keep in mind is that negative association works best when combined with positive reinforcement. In other words, don't just do the uncomfortable...reward yourself.

Think of when you trained a puppy or a child...did they learn best if you only scolded them? Or did they do better, more quickly if you had a brief NO followed by positive direction delivered with love? You too learn best when treated with love...and you deserve to be treated with love!

Make Love Not War

"Make love not war" was a very popular slogan during the 60s...I still like the philosophy and I see that it is something that I can apply most to myself.

How many different negative thoughts do you have about yourself in a day?

How often do you catch yourself repeating the same negative thought?

Whether we want to admit it or not, these thoughts are affirmations...we are "making firm" the thoughts by repeating them over and over. So by repeating or affirming these negatives we are making them bigger, truer and more powerful in our lives every day.

Let's stop that! We deserve to get better and better and build ourselves up rather than tear ourselves down.

That doesn't mean you will be positive 100% of the time. We all have negative thoughts and self-doubts from time to time.

What is important is for us to move away from the negative and move toward the positive.

We have ample opportunity for negative thoughts to dominate our minds if we allow them too...because we hear or read about standards for beauty and health...because we compare ourselves to others...

Whether your negative thoughts are about not being able to stick to your healthy eating goals, or how big your hips are, or thin your lips are, or that you are lazy... unlovable... unworthy... ugly... these negative thoughts do not serve you.

And they are usually not accurate! I am here to tell you that you are worthy. You are lovable. You are beautiful. I know this to be true...even if you do not yet know it.

From my personal experience I can tell you that all these negative thoughts lead to a lot of emotional eating...because food can make us feel good--at least temporarily. So if for no other reason, you deserve to stop the negative thinking. In fact you must stop it in order to achieve permanent, healthy weight-loss.

The good news is that you can change your thinking and you can come to believe what I already know is the truth about you--and me--about each and every one of us!

In my next post I'll give you specific ways to help begin those changes.

Weight Loss Success Calories NOT Key

It is not the number of calories you eat versus expend that is the most important measure of success for losing weight.

While reducing calories taken in and/or increasing the number of calories you burn is part of the equation--it is not the be-all to end-all.

This is my story--and I'm sticking to it--despite a federal study that claims otherwise.

This study followed people for 2 years (which for a dieter is an eternity) and found that whether the diet was low-fat or low-carb or high-protein did not matter...it wasn't the kind of diet that had the effect. The participants who had the greatest success, no matter what type of diet they were on reduced their caloric intake--and stuck with it.

Ah-ha! That is the key then, the sticking to it part!

Even in this study they note that the participants had trouble sticking to the plan--and weight lost was modest for most!!!

I've heard the calories in vs calories out theory since I was in high school. As a competitive athlete who worked out several hours a day and who did not eat a lot of food--and yet was still considered overweight--it just didn't make sense.

I knew in my heart there was more to it than simple math or physics!

Eating, body image and weight loss are emotional issues. And, defying all logic, it is quite possible for us to "hold on to" fat even if follow the mathematical equation.

This is why programs that include some sort of counseling or peer support have much greater results than diets that are simply following some eating rules.

With support, it is much easier to make the permanent life-style changes that are required to have permanent weight-loss results.

And to make the changes in our behavior we have to change what is going on in our heads first.

Bottom line, get your head 'in the game', decide that you are worth it, decide that you can achieve it, get some support, and every day take the action steps to get you to your health goals.

Place Emphasis on Wellness

I chuckled to myself today as I read the newspaper--there was an article titled "Focus on the Whole--Medical experts: Emphasis should be placed on wellness, not sickness"

This is NEWS???? Not to me!

This is one of the most important aspects of overall health--including losing weight. We have to pay attention to our overall health, not just a "diet"...when we do just focus on a "diet" the results will be, at best, short-term.

Only by paying attention to our entire life--our mind, body and spirit--can we have permanent, healthy results.

According to this article, good health care is preventive, predictive and personalized...this is true of how you lose weight permanently. What works for me, might not work for you...every one of us is different.

"Health is more than the absence of disease," says Dr. Ralph Snyderman--he is heading a meeting of the prestigious Institute of Medicine, which is attempting to get health-promotion on Congress' radar.

Dr. Tracy Gaudet is an OB/Gyn heading integrative medicine at Duke University, "The doctor says, 'Lose weight, exercise, see you in a year.' We know that doesn't work."

Bottom line, you have to take control of your health--it is up to you to decide that it is a priority. Consult with your health care practitioner--but as a partner...they are the supporting role, you are the star!

Thank You Academy, or And the Winner Is...

Did you enjoy the Academy Awards last night? I did...I almost didn't watch but heard that they were changing up the format and so I decided to check it out. Glad I did.

Why? Well, besides learning a bit more about the movies (I don't get to see movies much these days!) I got a couple "social ah ha" moments out of it...

What do I mean by a "social ah ha"? For me, it is the light bulb moment that is more than just a personal revelation (or ah ha), but one that gives me insight into what is going on in the world today. Or at least the USA.

This is going to be a longer than usual post...but it struck me deeply...

• Dreams--have them and use them for success.
• Be true to yourself. Be authentic.
• Be grateful for everything in your life. You never know what/who is going to inspire you to greatness.
• We are craving intimacy, closer contact.
  
• We are looking for reassurance that all is well in the world and that is reflected in our fondness for nostalgia.

All the people who were up for awards (the known and the less known) had a dream. And they stuck with that dream and acted upon it.

I even enjoyed the variety of styles of dress among the men and women--especially when it was obvious that it was a fit specifically for them. Think of Mickey Rourke and Penelope Cruz. Very different and each unique and well suited for them.

I loved when Andrew Stanton (winner for Best Animated Feature) "Creative seeds are sown in the oddest of places" as he was thanking his high school drama teacher for casting him in Hello Dolly.

The change in the stage format was a much more intimate approach than years past. It brought the audience closer to the host. It made it easier for him to communicate with the audience. And it brought the live audience closer to the television audience. And the groups of presenters for the acting awards spoke directly to the nominees. There was a deep, personal connection that struck a chord with the nominees and allowed us at home to feel like we knew both the presenter and the nominee a little bit better. Much different from showing a clip of the movie. Focus was on the person, not the movie.

The entire show was a throw-back to the 30s & 40s. From the song and dance numbers to the crystal curtain. It was nostalgic, reassuring, opulent.

What does this have to do with health, wellness and Refuse to Diet?

• Set your dream (goal) regarding your health and weight--and stick to it. Live it every day and you will achieve it.
• No one diet, exercise or fitness program works for everyone. Know yourself and choose a plan that will work for YOU, your lifestyle and your goals. And don't try to look like anyone else...instead be the best YOU that you can.
• We all have so much to be grateful for. Sometimes things that seem small or like a long time ago can be the catalyst we need for change. Sometimes things that even seem like negatives...look for the positive. And when you realize you were inspired by someone--let them know it!
• Make an effort to connect with at least one other human being--directly. That real connection can make all the difference in how you feel. Focus on people--not food.
  
• In times of uncertainty we look for things that give us comfort. That can be food--which might sabotage our health goals. What other ways can you give yourself a sense of security? Remember to celebrate your wins, recognize and reward your achievements
  

Oh--and the maybe obvious point is about the change in format in general--sometimes we have to change things up. Variety. Spice. Keeping things interesting and continuing success.

So be open to new ideas. Try some new things out. Change up your exercise routine...especially if you are getting bored. Boredom is a motivation killer!

Weight Loss: Family Help or Hinder

Weight and family are a tough combo. Whether your family taught you unhealthy habits or contributed to your "fat genes", your family can and will have a huge impact on your weight loss goals--IF YOU LET THEM! This can be a help. Or a hindrance. It is really UP TO YOU!

Your experience with your family will be different from mine...and even different from that of your siblings (if you have them.) Even though we theoretically grew up in the same family, my brother's experiences were decidedly different from mine and so we have different experiences today when visiting.

The bottom line for any family visit is to remember that your family loves you. It doesn't always feel that way...and sure there are some families out there that are so dysfunctional that love is not part of the equation...but if you are visiting them I'm going to presume there is love involved!

Sometimes that love is expressed as unconditional support for your goals. Some families will bend over backwards to help you to eat healthy and move your body and happily join you on the adventure. Other families will be supportive but not be willing to change any of their routines. And then some families will be downright combative about any change--even if it is for your health.

How your family chooses to help may be wildly different as well. Sometimes in an effort to "help" my mother would comment on every bite that went into my mouth. We talked about that years ago--she understands that for me that was not helpful and I asked her for specific things that she could do to help me instead. That way she didn't feel judged too harshly and she felt like she was helping me, which truly was her intention all along.

Keep in mind, if you have been one way your entire life, then your family is used to dealing with that version of you. If you are making changes then it will take some education so they know what you expect--don't think they will KNOW how you want to be treated and what you need. They cannot read your mind...even though we think they should be able to!

The biggest thing to remember is that your results are strictly up to you. No blaming the families help or lack of help.

Are Your Veggies Healthy?

Now look at how are the vegetables prepared--

Are you eating your potatoes in the form of french fries? You pretty much lost all the good potato value...so count that as a simple carbohydrate.

Are you eating your potato baked? Terrific. Oh, but you added 1/2 cup sour cream or several tablespoons of butter. You have now made a healthy food one laden with fat. Again, pretty much lost all the good value.

Are you having a big salad? Congrats! Dousing it with salad dressing--oops....

The point is, remember what you are adding to your vegetables. Make the additions healthy choices. Want some fat...use olive oil, flax oil or other oils that are actually good for you.

Instead of tons of butter and sour cream for your potatoes (russet, gold, red or sweet) try herbs, olive oil, flax oil, a little soy sauce, or something I have come to love is "Liquid Aminos". I spray a little on and it really adds a great zest to my potato.

Eat Your Vegetables

We've all heard this from our parents, from nutritionists, "Eat Your Vegetables"...

It is true, but let's also look at what are vegetables.

Vegetables include potatoes and sweet potatoes...high in starch. If you have already cut back on the empty calories in sodas, sweets, etc and are still wanting to lose some pounds, you may need to watch how many of your vegetables come from this end of the spectrum.

On the other end of the spectrum there are the lettuces...very low starch, low calorie, etc. It can take a lot of these foods to get you to feeling full. The good news is you can eat as much of them as you want. The bad news is you might get bored and some lettuces have little more nutrition than water.

Then there's a bunch in the middle--like broccoli, beans, etc. I find these to be the best bet for me in the "bang for the buck" as far as nutrition goes.

So there's a huge variety of vegetables and all of them are good to a certain point.

I love a big salad...but it is definitely not all lettuce. I make it chock-full of veggies so that I get a variety of textures, tastes (and vitamins!) in every bite. I pick colorful and flavorful veggies so that I get a pretty meal as well as one that is satisfying to my taste buds.

So don't just shake out the bag of romaine! Get mixed greens, add some peppers, cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, mushrooms, green beans, whatever you like. Make a salad that a restaurant would be proud to serve and you won't feel deprived! Add your favorite protein--lean beef, chicken, tuna, maybe some walnuts or almonds.

Be brave and experiment. I have found pine nuts to be a great addition to my salads.

During the winter I add more ingredients and less lettuce. During the hot days of summer I enjoy a lot of lettuce for the lightness.

Then top off the salad with something light--my favorite is fresh lemon. Sometimes I add olive oil.

Try some of the other oils that are high in omega 3s...try flax oil, hemp oil, try sesame oil for variety...No matter the oil, keep the quantity of it down. It should augment the flavors in the salad not overpower.

Try a little soy sauce and sesame oil combo. Or red wine vinegar with olive/flax or hemp oil.

Hunger Pangs: What to do?

So you want to lose some pounds, you are eating healthy, but gosh, you're just plain hungry, what do you do?

First thing I do when I feel hungry is to stop for a second (instead of just reacting and grabbing food) and analyze the situation to determine if I am really hungry or if it is something else...

I ask myself a couple of questions:

• Am I hungry in my stomach or in my mouth?
• Am I hungry for a specific food?
• When did I last eat?
• Have I had enough water?
• Am I bored?
• Am I feeling stressed? (boredom and stress are 2 of my emotional triggers, they may be different for you)
• Am I avoiding doing something or saying something?

I typically find that if I am "hungry" but it is really centered in my mouth as opposed to real stomach hunger pangs, then I may be craving something and that is almost always an emotional thing rather than real hunger.

Similarly, if I am hungry for a specific food (especially if that food is high sugar or fat, like ice cream or chocolate) then I'm not really physically hungry. It may sound great, but probably I got some trigger from either a visual cue (like I just saw someone eating ice cream, or an ad for a chocolate bar) or I am reacting to a situation emotionally.

Generally speaking if it has been 3-4 hours since I last ate, it is possible that I am actually physically hungry. I still run through the rest of the questions. However, If I am having mouth hunger of specific cravings AND it has been 3, 4 or more hours since I last ate, it is possible that I have waited TOO long and gone beyond the stomach hunger point.

If it hasn't been that long since I last ate, then I definitely want to look at my water intake. Many times we think we are hungry when we are really thirsty. That is why I always have water with me.

If it hasn't been that long since I ate and I have been drinking enough water, then I want to look at my emotions.

If I find that I can honestly say that I'm not reacting out of an emotion--in other words I'm not trying to "stuff" my emotions by eating, then I will eat something. Even if it has only been an hour or so since I last eat.

I just eat something like, high in protein and/or complex carbs.

It is important to learn to listen to our bodies...we just need to practice listening! We are in the process of changing our habits and learning to listen to our healthy bodies and make healthy choices!

More About Mindset

So how do you get your head in the game, like discussed yesterday?

I've said this many times before, but affirmations are a great tool for changing your head.

I know that I started and failed many diets over the years. I had myself convinced that I actually COULD NOT SUCCEED. Sure enough, as long as I held that belief I didn't.

What changed for me? I started by being open to the possibility that maybe I could be healthy.

Sound simple? Well, if you have been struggling for years (almost 40 in my case) to be healthy then it may be simple but it is far from easy!

If you are struggling with affirmations--or struggling with the idea that it is even possible for you to lose weight, then review some of my past posts that deal with the subject of affirmation. I have several posts that give specific affirmations as well as how I have used them in the past.

If you are still challenged with affirmations and your mindset I suggest you give yourself the gift of some help. Louise Hay has been a great help to me. I love You Can Heal Your Life. I have the extended version with the affirmation tool kit and listen to that daily. I also meditate with Wayne Dyer. I suggest you start with one, and I would start with Louise Hay. Then as you get more comfortable with affirmations you can add some other tools.

Bottom line is to be loving to yourself! Give yourself the gift of health. You deserve it! Be open to the possibility of health for you.

I'm Proud of Myself

I am proud! I have been at a very intensive course for the past several days (hence no posts!)

Sessions starting early in the morning and running to midnight could have easily led me to revert to unhealthy eating habits. There was quick access to high caffeine, high sugar, high simple carb foods which give energy surges, followed by the inevitable crash.

Instead, I kept my energy level constant by eating complex carbs, nuts, lean protein and drinking lots of water. Although not as much water as I normally do (there was so much info and very few bathroom breaks and I didn't want to miss a word!)

I brought my healthy food with me and that made it EASY to CHOOSE to eat what was healthiest for me.

Of course that meant I had to plan before hand. Most importantly I had to decide that I was important enough to be taken care of! I deserve to keep my healthy habits up and keep up with my health and weight loss goals!

I also exercised every day--even though I would have liked the extra sleep--I knew that sitting on my rear for 4 days was not good for my muscles or getting oxygen to my body. Quick walks during dinner breaks, walking flights of stairs rather than using the elevator, long walks at night all contributed to my healthy routine.

So after 4 days I feel stronger and healthy and proud of myself for learning and for exercising my determination for personal health!

Celebrate Success Now

It is important to remember to celebrate each and every success you have on the path to improved health.

Remember it is the journey--not the destination. You will keep having new goals and therefore you must appreciate what you have accomplished along the path or you will be setting yourself up for disappointment and discouragement.

Instead, enjoy your life and feel the JOY of your health and fitness by recognizing and celebrating your achievements...every single little one!

What am I celebrating right now? My noticeable increase in stamina! I love going for my walk and realizing that I am easily going faster than ever before. What used to require a lot of effort is easy...and I am able to "step it up!" That feels AWESOME!

What can YOU celebrate today?

LOVE and Weight Loss

Love is the best measuring stick to determine if we are making healthy food and exercise choices for ourselves.

All choices come down to either LOVE or lack of love, which I have come to define as fear.

If I feel "compelled" to eat chocolate for example, I can ask myself if this desire is coming from LOVE (a small piece of dark chocolate which has lots of great antioxidants, for example) or fear (that chocolate is on sale and I may never be able to find it again, for example.)

If the desire is coming from LOVE then I find that I am satisfied with a small quantity and I am able to fully enjoy the experience. Even if the item I want to eat has no nutritional value at all.

If the desire is coming from fear, then I find I am not satisfied...I could stuff myself with the food and still not feel satisfied. That's because I cannot get love, satisfaction or fulfillment when I base it in the lack of love!

The path to permanent weight loss is to eat (and to move) out of love for ourselves. This may take longer than a crash diet...but in the long-run it really doesn't! And we have the benefit of our health improving over time rather than be subject to the roller-coaster ride that accompanies the crash diet!

This is a life-long path of learning and reprogramming. I've had a lot of years of experience at eating without love. It is likely that I will face challenges on this path of growth and change and when I do, if I face those challenges from a loving place then I know I will succeed. So when I stumble, I will love myself back up onto the path of health. I will support myself in my efforts and know that I did my best at that moment in time and that every time I do my best I make it easier and easier for me to be my best the next time!

Affirmation:

I love myself as I am today. Because I love myself I take care of my body and make healthy choices. I know that I am doing my best and being my best becomes easier and easier. Thank you for my healthy body and the healthy choices I make.

Listen to Your Body

Yesterday I said it is important to love ourselves and to listen to our bodies in order to achieve our ideal weight and health.

There is a lot of documentation that supports the concept that left to our own choices, as young children we will choose the foods that give us the nutrition we need to grow and thrive in the world.

I am not suggesting that you not provide your child with guidance on making nutritional choices and expanding the food vocabulary. I am suggesting that we have an inner wisdom, we are "programmed" if you will, to know what is good and not so good for us.

The challenge comes in that most of us who have weight issues have used food for emotional support rather than nutritional support. Food is the most popular "drug of choice" to help us get through the day. It is relatively inexpensive, easy to get, and legal.

By abusing food, either mildly or massively, we have reprogrammed our brains. We have flooded our brains and bodies with chemicals and hormones that do not encourage our thriving. Caffeine and sugar are the easiest for us to understand, but they are not the only elements that are polluting our bodies and preventing the natural progression of health.

In order to be able to trust the messages you are getting from your body, you must first be sure that it is not the sugar, caffeine or other "bad apples" talking.

One way to do that is to be conscious about what you eat. Decide today that you will eat only when you are 100% aware. Ask yourself why you want to eat and what you want to eat. Then ask yourself if the thing you think you want to eat will support you in your health goals.

Another question that works wonders for me--is the desire to eat (or drink) this coming from LOVE? If I can honestly say YES to this question, then I give that item a green light!

Affirmation:

I choose to eat foods that support the health of my mind, body and spirit.

We'll talk more about LOVE and food tomorrow.

Happy New Year!

This is a time of new beginnings!

2009 is a year for improved health and abundance!

Rather than reflecting on the past, let's look to the future we want to create for ourselves, our families, our community and our world.

Peace and Prosperity for All!

How are You Doing Over the Holidays?

How have you been doing over the holidays?

Have you been enjoying the people in your life?

Have you been enjoying the food of the season?

Are you feeling positive about the year ahead?

I've noticed that I am enjoying the food--much of it very healthy, but also some wonderful holiday treats--and really enjoying it while eating significantly less!

I have been continuing my gentle exercising routine, too.

This is one of the best post-Christmas experiences I have had. A good place to repeat every year!

Let's all keep the positive attitude up and our health goals will naturally follow!

I Don't Have Time to Exercise

This is a hectic time of the year...wait that infers that there are times when it is not hectic, doesn't it?

Well, whether you are more busy than usual at this time, or just as busy, now is the time to remember to take care of yourself. That includes exercising.

"But I don't have time to exercise" I hear the voices coming from behind my screen as I type this (and typing on the keyboard does not count as exercise!) This is when my Jumping Jack theory works perfectly!

You have time for one (as in uno, ein) jumping jack, right? Commit to doing that. There's no need for taking the time to get on fancy exercise gear for one jumping jack...just get up and do it.

Why does this work?

Because it is easy. It is possible. You know you can do it--so you do it. You are moving your body more than you would otherwise...even if it is for only one jumping jack.

And because many of you will end up doing more than one...maybe 2 or 3 or 20. You might do them all at once, or maybe one each at several different times during the day...it doesn't really matter.

So have fun...and do a jumping jack!

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!

Social Networks and Obesity and Health

We've all heard the phrase "birds of a feather flock together"...well this is an old-fashioned way to talk about social networking. Today we call it Law of Attraction!

Social networks typically mean a group of people who gather together...who spen time in each others' company...for the purpose of having fun--socializing.

When we do this, typically we seek out people with whom we have something in common...

What does this have to do with obesity and health? All too often, we will associate with others who are of similar size and/or have similar health habits. If you love junk food, you might not have much in common with a person who is a total health food nut. Of if you don't exercise, your path might cross that of a fitness buff.

Our task is to broaden our scope of friends as we narrow our girth! Surround yourself with people who are generally happy and healthy and it will increase your chances of being happy and healthy, too.

Scientists have actually documented this phenomenon and claim that these habits are actually "contagious"...so if you don't want to "catch" unhealthy habits, minimize your time around people who participate in them and increase your time with people who have healthy habits.

If you are having trouble locating people in your area to support your healthy lifestyle, go ahead and check out some of the social networking trends online--like this blog, and places like Facebook, and forums. Finds groups of like-minded people who will support you in your goals!