YOU ARE INDEPENDENT NOT DEPENDENT

With today's holiday celebration, food becomes an even more significant issue for those whose objectives are weight loss. The key is to not allow a single day to prevent you from continuing with your program.

Now I'm not saying that a 4th of July BBQ is an excuse to predict failure. You should take 100% responsibility for your choices. Create an easy to follow plan to overcome each situation.

Remember what the holiday signifies--independence. How will you chose to declare you independence? Perhaps by taking control of your choices.

GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE

I am always amused when clients define themselves, food or an entire day by the terms "good" or "bad". 

This judgement is usually determined by their actions, or an event that has occurred. I typically remark that both adjectives seem a bit extreme. People, food and a twenty four hour period are neither good nor bad. They just are.

Now the real value comes in observing something. If I determine that a certain behavior or food item may be harmful to me, I may consider eliminating it. 

Rather than waste time replaying and criticizing, it may be more helpful to decide what to do about it.

SANTA KNOWS

Winter Warlock:
If I want to change the reflection I see in the mirror each mourn. You mean its just my election to vote for a chance to be reborn!

Both:
You put one foot in front of the other. And so you'll be walking out the door

FEEL LIKE EATING?

Your feelings can alter from one experience to the next. There are going to be times in our life when things happen that we may not be too happy about—but recognize that emotions are fleeting. And when they go you will still be here. Ready to experience the next one. Emotions are momentary and should not dictate what we are going to eat, or how we feel about ourselves, health etc.

Eating a bag of chips or cookies will not make the "feeling" go away. It may change your focus for ten minutes, but you can change your focus by engaging in any activity. The truth is covering your feelings by eating something unhealthy will only make you feel worse. You are causing yourself to be trapped in a cycle. Whatever is troubling you WILL change. But the consequences of what you choose to do about it may linger for much longer. You are intelligent enough to recognize food is not the answer. Food is not a solution. It is energy for your body. But it doesn't solve a problem (unless the problem is nutrition or hunger)

And of course you never know what adventures await you. Just because an event may seem like “things aren’t going your way”—well, that may not be true. It could be the event that leads you to something new. Like getting in control of your health.

MIND YOUR OWN FOOD BUSINESS

My clients who have decided to fine tune their eating habits are sometimes  met with resistance from their friends or families. Often it is with "innocent/caring" statements  such as "Let's just have fun. You can worry about it tomorrow." "Nobody wants to go out to eat with you anymore." or  "You are making me feel bad about my food."

Criticism that isn't supportive undermines our progress. And personally I think when people feel a need to comment on my food choices it's just plain rude. However, i remind myself that typically the comments others make tends to highlight their insecurities.  If you are the one making the comments ask yourself why you think the other person isn't "fun"?  Is food so central to your having fun. Or do you feel guilty about the choices you are not making?

BE GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE

I am always amused when clients define themselves, food or an entire day by the terms "good" or "bad". 

This judgement is usually determined by their actions, or an event that has occurred. I typically remark that both adjectives seem a bit extreme. People, food and a twenty four hour period are neither good nor bad. They just are.

Now the real value comes in observing something. If I determine that a certain behavior or food item may be harmful to me, I may consider eliminating it. 

Rather than waste time replaying and criticizing, it may be more helpful to decide what to do about it.

HOW SUGAR CAN AGE YOUR SKIN

I found this paragraph at http://www.smoothie-handbook.com/index.html. I knew sugar was bad but her is another reason you might think twice before you make statements like "one time won't hurt you" or "you have to enjoy life." Really? 


"There is a natural process in your body called glycation. It happens when the glucose in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products or AGEs for short. It’s a pretty simple process. The more sugar you eat the greater the number of AGEs you develop.

According to Dr. Fredric Brandt, dermatologist and author of 10 Minutes 10 Years: “As AGEs accumulate, they damage adjacent proteins in a domino-like fashion.”

Most vulnerable to this type of damage are the collagen and elastin protein fibers that keep your skin firm and elastic. Collagen is the most prevalent protein in your body. Once damaged, the normally springy and resilient collagen and elastin fibers become dry and brittle. This leads to wrinkles and sagging skin. According to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, this aging effect starts to show itself in the mid 30s and then increases rapidly after that.

In addition to damaging your collagen, the sugar side effects affect the type of collagen your body produces. The most abundant types of collagen in your skin are types I, II, and III. Collagen type III is the most stable and long lasting. The process of glycation will transform collagen type III into type I which has less volume and is more easily damaged. According to Dr. Brandt, “When that happens the skin looks and feels less supple!”

High-fructose corn syrup has the most of all sugar side effects. High-fructose corn syrup is used heavily in processed foods because it is sweeter, extends the shelf life, and is cheaper to produce. You will find it in most sodas, fruit-flavored drinks and packaged foods. Unfortunately, it produces the greatest number of AGEs.

To compound the problem, AGEs also deactivate your body’s natural antioxidant enzymes to reduce your antioxidant levels. This leaves you even more vulnerable to sun damage from free radicals which are the leading cause of aging for your skin."

KINDLE

http://www.amazon.com/Head-Over-Meals-ebook/dp/B00403N1JU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1328313420&sr=1-1

BE A LABEL WHORE

A friend once remarked that he was a "label" snob. He only purchased clothes, sunglasses etc that had a designer name associated to it.

I think we should become a nation of food snobs. Only eating foods that are rich in nutrients. Lets turn up our nose to foods that you can purchase at a convenient store. Only buy items that have an all natural label attached to them.

What would you look like if you paid more (or just as much)attention to what you put inside your body as what you wore outside?

I say be a label whore. Read the labels of every supermarket items. And only buy the best quality ingredients. 

LIFESTYLE DIET

My clients know I am not a big fan of so called diets. Mainly because most people will disconnect from the plan because it seems like to much effort . Just eating what is put in front of you doesn't seem like a great decision either. I think it best to train yourself to make better choices. It may not have to be a perfect choice but start by making better choices. Doing this will slowly alter your thinking and create a new habit as well.

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READ IT

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Vitamins That Can Hurt You | Yahoo! Health

Vitamins That Can Hurt You | Yahoo! Health

ARE YOU IN A BAD RELATIONSHIP?

Someone once said cake is like a bad relationship. It woos you with sweet nothings and leaves you unsatisfied and guilt ridden. I think this is an excellent anology. I would go one step further and say Sugar is like an abusive relationship. There might be a moment when things are great but it is very detrimental to the person. The pleasure is momentary and afterward the person is left feeling empty, and not very good about themselves. Think about what you would tell your best friend if you knew they were involved in a relationship that was harmful and ultimately could cause them physical harm. What if they told you " I can't help it. I'm in love."

Now think about your relationship with food. Are you that abused person? How long will you allow yourself to stay in the situation?

SINGLE ON VALENTINE'S DAY

If you were single on Valentine's Day and you wanted to be in a relationship , the fault may be in your beliefs and what you are projecting out. If you believe something to be true, you will find evidence to reinforce it.

Quantum physics has already showed that the scientist affects the outcome of the experiment just by what they expect to find. If you observe light as a wave, it behaves as a wave. If you observe light as a particle, it behaves as a particle.

The interaction of your observations and the filters of your perception affect everything you perceive. You, the observer, see what you expect to see. So if you believe that "all men are cheaters" or "woman only date rich men", you will find that to be true. You will find the evidence you need to make your belief true. And the cycle will continue.

And ask yourself this, if relationship are so "awful", then why do you want one? Perhaps if you focus on the things you do like, you might begin to attract something (someone) more positive.

Now I'm not saying that everyone should be in a relationship. Actually, you can learn something from your happy single friends. Simply be happy with what you do have. All too often people focus on what they don't have instead of what they do. If you are single you can enjoy being single. If you knew that in two years you would be married, you might be enjoying being single right now.

if you want to find the "right" person, first look inside of you, and find your best. The rest will follow.

WHAT YOU WISH FOR

You have heard the old cliché, "be careful what you wish for, you just may get it." It may seem at times that words almost take on a life of their own. This is because they are in a sense. When you read words you create an internal representation of it. Much in the same way if you chose to say things like “I just look at a piece of cake and gain five pounds”, you are creating an internal response to the words themselves. You chose that statement and soon it becomes ingrained into your unconscious mind. The unconscious mind then begins to respond to it.

JUST DO IT

What is your health goal? What does it mean to you? Your meaning or rather the meaning you give to something, drives and motivates you.Meaning is what you feel. It gives something significance.

What does the word “meaning” mean to you? How does that fit into your personal meaning of healthy? Or being fit? What meaning do you give to succeeding or achieving a particular goal.

And what is so meaningful about those meanings? why does it "mean" so much to you? And finally, does it mean enough that you will take action? If yes,what is the physical action you will take? Now Just do it.

HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT EATING

One phrase that seems to be fashionable amongst the overweight is "emotional eater".I suppose they are stating that they eat when the experience an emotion. I am curious to know if there is any moments when they are experiencing the void of any emotion. Being human, I too , experience a wide range of emotions. However, I don't necessarily equate eating a cup cake as a way to negate the negative feeling.

Feelings can alter from one experience to the next. There are going to be times in our life when things happen that we may not be too happy about—but can recognize that emotions are temporary. And when they go you will still be here. Ready to experience the next one.

What you are feeling should not dictate what we are going to eat, or how we feel about ourselves, health etc.

Eating a bag of chips or cookies will not make the "feeling" go away. It may change your focus for ten minutes, but you can change your focus by engaging in any activity. The truth is covering your feelings by eating something unhealthy will only make you feel worse. You are causing yourself to be trapped in a cycle. Whatever is troubling you WILL change. But the consequences of what you choose to do about it may linger for much longer.

FILL IT UP

Food is fuel to your body. It's great that we enjoy a wide range of selections. But this only means we have several quality fuels to chose from.
Much in the same way your thoughts are fuel to your motivation and can effect the way you feel. The truth is we have the ability to make a decision about the quality of fuel we want to put into our mind and body. And we can expect results based on that choice.

JUNK FOOD

Wikipedia defines "junk" as ---Waste, any undesired thing or substance--

When we really don't want junk we throw it in a big pile and put a fence around it. We call that a "junk yard". Rats nest there. Stray dogs will sometimes pass through.

Some people will dig through all that debris.Hoping that they might find somebody else's trash at a discount price.

Most of the time it's just junk. And it's dirty.

Can you picture a junk yard? Now picture junk food. It's no different.Trash.

Do not buy junk food. You don't need it. Your mate doesn't need it. Your children don't need it. There is no reason for it.