Elect NOT To Gain Weight This Holiday Season

Happy November! In honor of election day tomorrow, let's ELECT NOT to gain the standard 7-10 pounds during the holidays this year. We have begun the eating trifecta...Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas/Hannukah. Americans love to celebrate these holidays with excessive amounts of high calorie foods- in large quantities. Can you enjoy the season and NOT gain weight? Of course! But yes, some discipline and primarily large doses of awareness are necessary.

Let's start with the Halloween candy. Most people have "leftovers" of snack-sized chocolates. We finish up our favorites (always the Reeses cups in our home) and then mindlessly polish off the less desired ones simply because they are THERE. Take a look right now at your candy bowl (if it is still sitting out). Grab a bag & toss the candy into it, and drop it off at your neighborhood food pantry if you don't want to "waste" it by throwing it away.

As we move into party season, be very mindful as you walk into each gathering. Often hosts are handing out a delicious alcoholic beverage as guests enter...which is a double whammy. Number one- high calories in sipping form. Number two- alcohol goes hand in hand with mindless munching, especially high fat or high calorie treats. SO- politely declare your thirst and ask if you can start with a glass of WATER, which will actually help fill you up and keep your head clear for healthier choices. Many studies have shown that simply drinking a full glass of water before meals cuts calories and promotes weight loss, so this is a win-win!

BOTTOM LINE: Be conscious of mindful eating (and drinking) as we begin holiday celebrations, and there will be one less New Year's Resolution on your list!

PS. Did you remember to change your air filter on November 1st?

True Gift of LOVE for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is already upon us- what happened to January? Are you still figuring out your New Year's Resolutions, or have you already forgotten the ones you chose? At any rate, we are indeed well into February of 2012, and the onslaught of high calorie holidays continues...with next week's Valentine's chocolates topping the list.

This year, why not show your love in a better way to support your loved one's health? I LOVE chocolate, but why not give a half-dozen chocolate covered strawberries, rather than a whole box of candy? Better yet, meet your sweetheart for a moonlight stroll around the lake (or city, or park). Write him a list of the top ten reasons he makes you smile, or send her a gift card for a pampering manicure!

If your honey is an award-winning athlete and truly heart healthy, knock yourself out sending high calorie treats or splurging on a five course meal. BUT, if you are like the vast majority of Americans, and you and/or your sweetheart really need to increase your overall fitness and decrease your waistline, show you REALLY love your partner by giving them a gift that will improve the quality and length of your lives together!


BOTTOM LINE: Let's support our loved ones and give gifts that spread joy, not waistlines!

New Year's Resolutions- a WEIGHTy Issue

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012, the year that holds the potential to be your HEALTHIEST yet! Virtually every list of top 10 New Year's Resolutions leads off with the battle of the bulge- whether it is "lose weight", "get fit", "eat healthy", "join weight watchers", "join a gym" or some other variation. With the vast majority of Americans falling into the "OVERWEIGHT" or "OBESE" categories, these resolutions certainly make sense. Unfortunately, many of us fight the SAME 10, 20, or even 30-plus pounds over and over again. We get motivated, make healthy changes, lose weight...and then gain it back. Ugh. What might we do differently this year?
Here is some food for thought...

1. Figure out the WHY of your eating behaviors, and learn to eat MINDFULLY. Dr. Michelle May's book "Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat" is a FABULOUS start- buy it today. Her focus is how to break the "eat, repent, repeat cycle". AMEN.

2. Speaking of buying- let's put our money where our mouth is- literally! I have heard over and over again that it's too expensive to meet with a dietician, join a gym, or eat fresh fruits & vegetables, or take up a new sport, yet these same people are spending far more discretionary money on their daily Starbucks, hair highlights or a round of golf. Seriously, we need to prioritize our health and be willing to pay for it!

3. Commit to ONE small permanent change each month. Experts say it takes 21 days to cement a new habit, so why not make 2012 the year to develop 12 new healthy habits? Start with something simple, like making sure you eat breakfast every day OR (assuming this was not part of your routine already.) In this case, it can be a granola bar or a cup of yogurt. Remember to keep it simple. If you try to make a change from no breakfast to cooking a veggie omelette and drinking freshly squeezed grapefruit juice- well, I'm not optimistic it will stick!

Whatever you choose, find a way to make yourself accountable. Make a deal with a friend, tell your co-workers, announce it to your family (if you have teens, they will HAPPILY hold you accountable), or simply record it on your smart phone, computer or an old fashioned piece of paper.

BOTTOM LINE: Make 2012 the year you make your New Year's Resolutions last beyond Janaury, and choose GOOD HEALTH!