weight loss and the "give up" mentality

Most, if not all people who have experienced weight control problems have gone through the cycle of losing weight and then gaining it back. This cycle tends to be repeated over and over. This is the "usual", NOT the unusual. We, as human beings, are built and wired to gain weight readily as opposed to losing it. From the better taste of high-caloric foods, to reward systems, sto metaboism slow-down to the nature of social and cultural gatherings (wlcome Superbowl weekend) to human nature factors: all of these make us a weight gaining specie. When we mentally decide to go into a weight losing mode, we are fighting very strong instinctual forces.

At times, we develop a mental fatigue that prompts us to want to throw our hands up and say "I've had enough...I am giving up." The counting of portions, mentating through our eating patterns, the foregoing of eating the food sources we love and feel comfortable eating...all of these require great effort and as much as I tell people to try not to look at losing weight as punitive and sacrifice, it is often looked at that way.

Write down a list of all the things in your world that are the most important to you....spouse, children, grandchildren, friends, etc....your occupation and how you impact others in a positive way etc....write these things down and think how much you would miss them if God forbid something happened horribly medically to you. The loved ones you would miss and the things and people in life that define you. Keep this list available and if you ever feel the "give up" mindset concerning your weight loss efforts, take out this list and remember all the reaons why you are choosing to be healthier and happier. This may help returning to "the zone" and positively apporaching your weight loss efforts.

weight control and superbowl weekend

As if the snow is not enough of a challenge to stay on track in your efforts to be healthier and happier by losing weight, we have the Superbowl (Superbore usually) to provide a great opportunity for hurting your efforts. The food sources that usually accompany a persons Suiperbowl party will include a virtual "All You Can Eat" array of chips, nuts, carbohydrate choices and of course, the open bar.

If you are hosting a gathering, PLEASE have available LOTS of choices for people who are trying to keep weight under control. If you are going to someones house, bring as a gift some food source compatible with your efforts to lose weight. I guarantee you that there will be other people there who have a weight problem who would benefit from your healthy dish as opposed to the other array of items available. It is not fair, but it is true that one day of indulgence can wipe out the 6 days of great work you have done. Do not fall into this trap.

Oh, Posner Prediction: Indy 31, New Orleans 24

weight loss and snow

We already discussed the need to NOT use the next 48 hours as an episode of The Cooking Channel, but this morning's entry will focus more on health considerations.

Every year, many people experience their heart attacks or even death while shoveling snow. The combination of undetected corornary artery disease, risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity (smoking, high cholesterol, age over 60, family history of heart disease and being a male are the other ris factors) and extreme exertion under inclement conditions can make the "perfect storm" so to speak for a massive myocardial infarction.

I implore everyone out there to warn anyone you know who fits the above description to NOT get out there to do lots of heavy snow removel. If you have the resources, hire the multitude of people ringing doorbells looking for this work....they need the money lots and lets you stay inside. No macho stuff...let others do it. If you have children, put them to work (unless they are young enough to be considered too young for this of course).

If you do go out and feel ANY shortness of breath, chest pressure, dizziness, IMMEDIATELY stop and go back into the warm house and if symptoms persist, do NOT attribute it to "gas"...call 911,

Use this time in the house to exercise, and read the 650 blog entire I have written. Nah, exercise, read the ones last week you missed, watch some movies and plan some fun meals that are creative yet low-caloric. And most of all be careful and do not put your hralth at risk .

weight loss and snow days

Another storm approaching...I was at Safeway last night and the mob scene was already present. When you take a step back and really think of the biggest snows here, I do not think there has been any storm which truly kept people isolated for more than 48 hours. Even in the biggest of storms, we are able to get in our cars and drive to the stores within 48 hours at the latest. How much milk, bread, toilet paper, etc can a family plow through in 48 hours? The run on the supermarkets in anticipation of a storm is to a alrge extent instinctual. It is similar to the squirrels burying their nuts. We feel compelled to have a house stocked with food and sundries to give us piece of mind that we will not go hungry or lack anything. Intellectually we know that all we really need is 2 days worth of food but we buy extraordinary amounts of food sources.

The temptation on these days is to start whipping up food in the kitchen. From snackfoods like popcorn to large meals to baking cakes and cookies....we feel compelled to fire up that stoove and take out lots of that food we bought (and waited on line to check out for).

These are the days that Posner tells you to use that exercise equipment that is in youtr basement. Also, create a novel dish in the kitchen that is LOW caloric. Buy some great protein source..lobster tails, a fine roast and spend lots of time seasoning it and slow cooking...make that feast high protein.

Do not let the snow days become "Uh oh" days.

weight loss and guilt

I have covered this topic before but I see this weekly so let me hit on this one again: If you gain weight you are not "BAD" and you have not "CHEATED." We often equate the gaining of weight for being bad, and we self-loathe becasuse of it. Not only that, we then tend to NOT want to come in for your appointments or come back into our program for fear that somehow you will be value judged and we will be disappointed in you. Of course not! We UNDERSTAND the issues involved and the difficult nature of losing weight andd keeping it off. This is what we do...help you lose weight. We NEVER judge or critically apporach the weight gain..we CONSTRUCTIVELY become involved medically and psychologically to help you get back on track to become healthier and happier.

Please NEVER feel embarrassed, guilty or "bad" if weight gain occurs. If you need our help to reverse this weight gain, never hesitate to call us.

weight loss and support

It is very helpful to have lots of support along the way during your weight loss efforts. From family members to friends to co-workers, their support can be immensely helpful. Connversely, their actions can be derailing to your efforts. Have you been around any group of people at dinner and be implored to eat a high-caloric food source? "Oh come on, s small piece of cake can't hurt you..." "You look great right now, you dont have to lose anymore weight." These types of lines are all-too familiar and usually come from friends or elderly family members.

Sometimes your weight loss efforts initimidate other people, especially the ones in your world who are overweight. If a dessert tray comes to a dinner table and people around you are ordering desserts and you do not, then some guilt forms in the minds of those ordering. Guilt because your demonstration of control highlights their lack of the same. So if you are coerced to have a dessert, then everyone feels happier.

Support those around you in their weight loss efforts and do not be afraid to boldly state to anyone trying to derail your efforts that "it is important for me to lose weight and I would appreciate your help in my efforts." If you find that despite this plea, your "freinds" still persist in trying to derail your efforts, are they really your freinds?

weight loss and external incentives

I wrote an entry last week about Whole Foods giving a higher dicsount to their employees who are in better physical condition. I am rerading more articles about othe rcompanies providing cash incentives for their employees to become healtheir, most notably reduce weight. I am certain some of the concern on the management's part is the concern for the individual but I would bet most of it is based on wanting to reduce healthcare costs and missed time at work. Clearly, overweight people develop many more medical problems and are more likely tom drive up the medical costs as well as miss time at work due to illness.

Being incentivized to lose weight from outside sources is perhaps not the most noble reason to lose weight. We shoudl all feel the INTERNAL incentives to motivate ourselves. However, when you watch the ultimate EXTERNAL incentive program such as The Biggest Loser, these people are vying for millions of dollars and popularity for future money making gigs.No small wonder they can lose all that weight. If NBC paid all of you extraordinary amounts of moeny, I have no doubt that there woild not be one week that goes by where substantial weight loss did not occur.

Reality: you are not getting paid by anyone to lose weight and most of the places you work for may even in a clandestine manner, penalize you (less chances for promotion, greater chance of termination) for being overweight. Think of internal incentives (only allow yourself to get that new car, new dress, new jewelry item) that will help ypou motoivate to become healthier and happier.