Category: Motivation

How did so many of our pets get so overweight?   Back in 2018, Susan Jenks of the New York Times published a story entitled “Our Fat Pets.” She shared statistics that, at that time, 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in America were at unhealthy weights. She quoted the Association for  [Read more...]

First, let me be clear: When I say, “starving yourself doesn’t work in dieting,” I am referring to regularly and purposely skipping meals or eating super small meals . . . that sort of thing. I am not referring to the disease of anorexia (that’s a different topic for another day).   It’s  [Read more...]

These days, western culture is immersed in the pandemic of political correctness and group think. It’s the extraordinary arrogance of the p.c. movement that seeks to impose on people what is right, okay, fair, or acceptable to think and speak. It’s positively Orwellian and, in my opinion, should be resisted by anyone who  [Read more...]

Over the last four weeks, in each of my weekly blogs, I’ve been addressing the common thoughts of those who fall prey to, as relates to weight loss, Given Up and Given In to Hopelessness.    “This is who I am.” “Guess I’ll be fat forever.” “It’s in my genes.” “I’m tired of  [Read more...]

There are five common thoughts of those who, when it comes to weight loss, fall prey to Given Up and Given In to Hopelessness.    “This is who I am.” “Guess I’ll be fat forever.” “It’s in my genes.” “I’m tired of dieting.” “I’m happy being fat.”   These folks think this way all  [Read more...]

In my last two blogs, I wrote about the five common thoughts of those who fall prey to what I call, when it comes to weight loss, Given Up and Given In to Hopelessness.  “This is who I am.” “Guess I’ll be fat forever.” “It’s in my genes.” “I’m tired of dieting.”  [Read more...]

In another recent blog, I wrote about how there are five common thoughts of those who fall prey to what I call the Given Up and Given in to Hopelessness of weight loss. They share them all at once or come to them one at a time. “This is who I am.”  [Read more...]

There are five common thoughts of those who fall prey to the Given Up and Given in to Hopelessness of weight loss. They share them all at once or come to them one at a time. “This is who I am.” “Guess I’ll be fat forever.” “It’s in my genes.” “I’m tired of  [Read more...]

Many of my clients are career professionals and small business owners. There is a common problem among them: They put themselves last. They work long hours and eat mindlessly all day; or they let their work distract them and purposely go long hours without eating anything at all. Those who were  [Read more...]

As parents, we are responsible for the environment in which we raise our children — emotionally, physically, psychologically, socially and spiritually. That responsibility is enormous. All the years our children are home before spreading their wings and beginning the next chapters of their lives, they are listening to us, watching us, and soaking  [Read more...]

Boy, how many times have I heard that from a client?!   The typical emotional over-eater feels helpless and frustrated because of his/her history of failure at weight management. They feel as if they can’t stop themselves from over-eating, despite knowing it’s self-destructive. They often feel like their right hand is stuffing food  [Read more...]

Ask anyone who is extremely successful — at anything — and 9 out of 10 of them will no doubt tell you they don’t have that much more talent or intelligence than anyone else. What every single one of them do have or did have, however, is a million times more desire to succeed  [Read more...]

So often, especially on a Monday morning, or if I haven’t seen a client for longer than usual, upon entering my office and before they get on the scale, they will pronounce, “You’re going to be angry with me” or “Don’t be angry with me.” As you can surmise, and as I instantly know  [Read more...]

Does society (through the industries of entertainment and fashion mostly) sometimes bombard us with ridiculous standards of body image, especially when it comes to women? Yes.   Should we all do our part to reverse it by making normal-sized people feel confident in themselves and stop them from thinking they are fat? Yes.    [Read more...]

Everyone knows about the stereotypical, overbearing, helicopter parent that sees their kid’s straight-A report card and asks, “Why no A+?” This kind of joke is apparently very funny to people without such parents but depressing and straightforwardly true to people who have them.   Well, you get the exact same kind of people when  [Read more...]

As consumers, of which I am one of course, we have those retail stores or service providers with whom we prefer to shop over others, whether because of the value they provide over others who may provide the same product or service, or the in-store shopping experience that one store provides over another,  [Read more...]

Half the battle of weight loss is trying to stay on track, and it doesn’t help if your loved ones aren’t being as supportive as they should be.   📌 Does your spouse bring you a huge box of chocolates every Valentine’s Day?   📌 Does your mother-in-law shove home-baked goodies in  [Read more...]

The foundations for cardiovascular disease in adults are laid in childhood and accelerated by the presence of obesity (as well as diabetes and high blood pressure).   Geetha Raghuveer, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kanas City, MO, and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri Kansas City  [Read more...]

Life works in mysterious ways. Who would have thought that the infertility roller coaster would lead me to what I am doing today. Prior to my getting married at the ripe “old” age of 36, I had been living on my own since I was 21. I was enjoying a great corporate career in  [Read more...]

“There’s no such thing as failure; there are only results.”   This gem is attributed to Tony Robbins, one of the world’s most famous motivational speakers, and is regurgitated ad nauseum by business coaches, commencement speakers, and so many others.   So, in other words, whenever we attempt to do something and don’t succeed  [Read more...]

Have you ever known a habitual liar? They’re the people who lie so much to so many that they can’t keep their lies straight. They don’t remember what they told to whom. All the mental work involved in trying to keep their lies straight is exhausting!   Well, yo-yo dieting can have the same  [Read more...]

While women are more of the habitual dieters, yo-yo’ing their way from one quick-fix product or program to the next, in my experience it’s the men who opt not to seek professional assistance, preferring to try to do it on their own. I’ve been told by many of them that it is because they  [Read more...]

“It’s so easy to lose weight without dieting or exercising!” “Eat whatever you want and still lose weight!” “Lose weight forever…you’ll never need to diet again!” “Block the digestion and absorption of fat, carbs, or calories!” “Rapid weight loss: Lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks!”“Lose 40 pounds in 30 days.” “Finally, a weight loss  [Read more...]

Do you need to lose weight but dread the thought of how far you have to go to accomplish your goals?   Clients have told me that when they think about all they’ll have to do in order to reach lose weight, it paralyzes them. It’s why they procrastinate in getting started and  [Read more...]

    As I do every year immediately after New Year’s, I start to remind clients to get laser-focused on their weight loss goals because time passes quickly, and the difficult eating challenges (for most)—Easter and Passover holidays—will be upon us. But, something else is also drawing near: the senior prom.   The senior prom  [Read more...]

“Eat everything in moderation.”    We hear this advice a lot from diet/lifestyle gurus, fitness professionals and physicians. It’s a common expression as relates to the indulgence (or over-indulgence) of food or drink — the so-called occasional “pig-out” or “going off the wagon.”   I get asked my opinion on this  [Read more...]

When you walk past an elementary school, or day camp, or food court at the mall, the chances are that most of the kids you come across will be overweight or obese. What are parents of already obese 8–10-year-old kids thinking when their children are gorging on 1/2-pound burgers with onion rings and  [Read more...]

Want to bring out the worst in people? Lose weight! Whether it’s 10 pounds or a ton, just watch and see how you’ll be showered with so much fattening food—by people who claim to love you! Why is that? When dieters fall off the wagon, they’re always shocked to think that someone  [Read more...]

When you cheat, it almost always means you’ve done something on the spur of the moment. You didn’t think it through. You didn’t weigh the pros, the cons. You didn’t consider how you would respond to the ramifications of your actions. And, most often, the aftermath of a “cheat” results in a person  [Read more...]

Whether it’s starting a weight loss program or starting to incorporate exercise or personal training into your life, one of the hardest parts about sticking to either endeavor, is the dread that comes from thinking about how far you have to go to accomplish your goals. Actually, let’s face it, it’s quite normal  [Read more...]

The festival of Chanukah is one of the best loved holidays in the Jewish calendar. The powerful images of the miracles of the Jewish victory over the Selucid Greeks in the 2nd Century BCE and the miracle of the one-day supply of oil burning eight days in the re-dedication of the Temple are an  [Read more...]

My husband is as slim as the day I married him. He bothers me about my weight. I avoid intimacy with my husband because I know how he feels about my gaining so much weight during our marriage. I don’t sleep well through the night; I’ve started to snore. It gets so bad sometimes  [Read more...]

Most of the overweight young people I see in the office have overweight or obese parents. Often, despite a child’s size and health issues or risks, many of these parents are in denial of the consequences of a do-nothing attitude, and they are resistant to acknowledging the role they played in their child’s obesity.  [Read more...]

Are you an obese parent with overweight kids? Do YOU like living the life of an overweight person? Is that what you want for your children? Do YOU like shopping for clothes that look good on you instead of being able to buy the clothes you like and want to wear?  [Read more...]

“You have breast cancer.”   Those four words can make a woman buckle at the knees. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a good time to address the issue because of the relationship between obesity and breast cancer —and make no mistake: There IS a relationship. The sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are known to  [Read more...]

One of the most discouraging aspects of weight loss is the inevitable slips . . . and everyone has them. For some people, the occasional slip brings about an all-out binge  . . .  followed by regret, remorse, guilt, disgust, self-loathing, a sense of powerlessness and a feeling of “what’s the use?”   Sound familiar?   [Read more...]

I’m really angry today.    A mom stopped in to inquire about an appointment for her 15-year old daughter. The mom was referred by her friend (a physician) whose young son was a successful client of ours. This woman’s daughter weighed 170 pounds at her last pediatric “well” visit. Can you imagine?! 170 pounds?! 15 years old?! (Coincidentally,  [Read more...]

I love this time of year and the wonderful changes it brings. The season is about to change. The leaves are about to change colors of red, orange and yellow. The sunrise and sunset times are about to change. The temperatures are about to change. Summer camp changes to  [Read more...]

“Reality denied comes back to haunt.” ~ Philip K. Dick One of the more uncomfortable (for them, not for me) encounters with a client is when they lie — and I always know it. Two of the more common lies:   Lie #1 A client will have significant weight gain. They will  [Read more...]

Diets that encourage eating only one type of food or promise rapid weight loss can be dangerous to your health. The short list of the possible risks posed by fad diets includes: Nutritional deficiencies caused by a lack of a balanced diet. Lack of variety in foods causes boredom and frustration and  [Read more...]

“I’m not really that overweight; I’m big boned!” If I had a couple of bucks for every client that has said that to me over the years, I could have retired years ago! There is such a thing as being big boned—but it’s not a medical term, and it’s never used  [Read more...]

There are many excuses that clients use to try and convince themselves that their weight gain is not their fault, that a bad eating day is not their fault, that a weight stall is not their fault, that they’re not losing weight fast enough is not their fault, that boredom with what they’re eating is  [Read more...]

You stick to a diet. You lose a lot of weight. You go off the diet. You gain it all back. You get depressed. You start bingeing. You gain it all back. You go on another diet. You lose some weight. You go off the diet. You gain it all back. You get depressed.  [Read more...]

I often shake my head when new clients recite a long list of diets they’ve tried in the past, ranging from the ridiculous to the downright dangerous. My response is always the same: I tell them I can teach them everything I know, but I can’t go home with them, I can’t shop  [Read more...]

You’ve followed your diet faithfully, watching every morsel that passes your lips . . . and perhaps you’ve also been out there exercising every day. So why, with all the good intent, determination and motivation, now that you’re starting to see the physical results of all that hard work, have you come up against  [Read more...]

I see a lot of very overweight and obese young women, and I talk to them about all the pitfalls of being obese, not the least of which how it can affect their fertility as well as how their weight will affect their children starting right in the womb and then all the years  [Read more...]

Here’s another one from the vault of wacky weight loss gimmicks: The Candy Diet! OK, folks . . . so here’s a word to the wise (or, I should say, to the not-too-wise): Unless you’re Forrest (“life is like a box of chocolates”) Gump, if diet pills look like a box of chocolates, they’re  [Read more...]

Parents and students of all ages are in countdown mode for spring break . . . and with that of course comes the anticipated family vacations. (And the end of school and summer vacations are not far behind.) Now is the time that many clients start telling me that, as much as they are  [Read more...]

One of the questions I get asked by many female clients is “Why does my friend eat anything she wants and never gains weight?”     And my answer is always the same: “Don’t worry, be happy; it’ll catch up with her!” . . . and believe me, folks, it always does.   If you  [Read more...]

If your high school senior son or daughter is obese, and if you think peer pressure and teen socialization is tough as it is, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!  No, I’m not talking about the stress of waiting for acceptances to all those college applications. I’m also not referring to the pressures teens live with as  [Read more...]

Obesity is a high risk for a long list of serious medical diagnoses, as well as poor health in general. That translates to higher healthcare costs associated with those medical issues. Two thirds of a typical American workforce is overweight or obese. They are at a higher risk for developing the diseases that cost  [Read more...]

Too many people think weight is a food problem.  It’s not.   Weight is also not a physical problem.     The fact is that our bodies will react to what our minds are thinking.   Weight gain (or loss) has more to do with what’s going on between our ears than anything else!  [Read more...]

We all hear this saying a lot, and perhaps others of us say it a lot. Either way, it’s a common expression most often used as relates to the indulgence (or over-indulgence) of food or drink. The so-called “occasional pig-out” or “going off the wagon.”    I get asked my opinion on this quite  [Read more...]

In my blog, Just Say “No” To Food Pushers, I wrote about the scourge of those who cannot take “No” for answer. It’s time to do so again.   It seems some people relish (no pun intended) that role, and often it’s because they’re miserable in their own bodies. The holiday season, Thanksgiving through  [Read more...]

I know it’s strange to find a “how to” article focusing on adding fat to your body. You might say that we already know how to do that—since 2/3 of Americans are overweight and 1/3 are clinically obese. You might say we’ve already mastered this topic! I want to challenge that assumption. I  [Read more...]

I think it’s safe to say that most parents are dedicated to their child’s oral, visual and physical well-being and diligently schedule annual check-ups at the dentist, eye doctor and pediatrician. Why is it, then, that so many of those same parents do NOT put the same emphasis on their kids’ eating habits? After all, what  [Read more...]

Not surprisingly, I meet many people who have all the various weight-related medical issues: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, insulin resistance . . . just to name a few. Unfortunately, I find that too many have a very cavalier attitude about it. When I question whether or not they really understand  [Read more...]

Uh ohhhhh . . . they’re baaaack  . . . the holidays!  They come one after the other, in rapid fire: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. How are you going to handle all the fattening foods and drinks that inevitably accompany every party, gathering or event? Food is a big and  [Read more...]

When you think of the word diet, do you think of it as a noun or a verb?   The answer to that question may very well explain why dieting is so difficult for so many. Those who struggle the most with weight loss and lifestyle change are those whose underlying intention is to change  [Read more...]

I recently wrote about how “I don’t know” is tied with “I don’t have time” for the #1 spot on the hit parade of excuses heard regularly from weight loss clients. The #2 spot? Well, that’s definitely “I can’t.” OMG . . . I hate that word can’t. It’s not in my vocabulary.    [Read more...]

Would you let your children smoke cigarettes? Then don’t do it.   Would you let your children do drugs? Then don’t do it.   Would you let your children drink alcohol and drive? Then don’t do it.   Would you let your children stop eating to lose weight? Then, don’t do it.   Would  [Read more...]

I read a very good post on LinkedIn by Mareo McCracken, This is Why You Are Sabotaging Relationships (+8 Actionable Ideas to Build Incredible Ones). It was about sabotaging relationships when it comes to success (or failure) in business. It stood out for me because of those two words: SABOTAGING and RELATIONSHIPS.   I  [Read more...]

Every now and then I like to remind everyone that foolish, fad diets aren’t new to modern times. I’ve previously written about The Candy Diet, The Cigarette Diet, The Tapeworm Diet, and the Fruit Salt Pills & Bands; Reducing Soap; Bile Beans and Fat Girls Diets.   It’s time to go back into the vault of dumb, dopey  [Read more...]

There’s lots of Rationalizations, Excuses and Denials—a.k.a. bullshit—in weight loss. I hear it daily. My favorite, which I’ve already written about it, is “I’m not really that overweight; I’m big boned.” I always get a chuckle out of that one. My second favorite is a tie between “No matter what I do, I can’t seem to lose weight”  [Read more...]

Pusher: “Here, try this.” Addict: “No, thanks.” Pusher: “Are you sure?” Addict: “Yes, thank you.” Pusher: “C’mon, you’re doing great on your diet; you can have one little piece.” Addict: “No, really; I’m sure. Thanks.”   Pusher: “Aren’t you going to have any dessert?” Addict: “No, dinner was enough; I’m full, thanks.” Pusher: “My cheesecake not  [Read more...]

To anyone who thinks that liposuction is a good weight loss tool, here’s a newsflash: It most certainly is not! Liposuction is a surgical procedure, requiring some type of anesthesia, whether local or general. There is no such thing as a surgical procedure without risk, and the heavier a person is, the greater the risk.   [Read more...]

I don’t believe I’m going out on a limb when I say that we expect people in their fields of service to match what they’re selling. Speaking for myself, I do.   We expect dentists to have good teeth.   We expect dermatologists to have nice skin.   We expect personal shoppers to  [Read more...]

Marriage vows are a commitment a couple makes to each other during a wedding ceremony. And while of course couples often do write their own vows, we are all at least familiar with the following: I, ____, take you, ____, to be my lawfully wedded(husband/wife), to have and to hold from this day forward,  [Read more...]

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? It’s obvious: You see your face, your hair, and all your external body parts, and lots and lots of skin. But what you don’t see is what’s going on inside . . . and if you’re overweight or obese I’m talking about the stuff that  [Read more...]

Even after all these years of listening to new clients recite a long list of diets (aka “torture”) they’ve put themselves through, I am still not immune to being shocked by how some will resort to absolutely insane levels in order to avoid hard work. Too many people would rather put up with stinky breath  [Read more...]

  I read a wonderful, informative article by George Armes, Over 50? 60? All’s (definitely) Not Lost! that provides one great piece of advice after another for older adults to get past the stereotypical younger recruiter across the desk to either get back into the job market or switch jobs. One of Mr. Armes’  [Read more...]

Just when you think you’ve heard about all the crazy, idiotic, ridiculous (and oftentimes dangerous) weight loss gimmicks, I’ll write about another one. As with The Cigarette Diet, which I wrote about in Take a Puff, Lose a Pound, here’s another from the you-can’t-make-this-sh*t-up department. Ever hear of The Tapeworm Diet?  This particular diet  [Read more...]

An article by psychotherapist and marriage counselor, Mel Schwartz, For the Sake of the Children, really struck a nerve with me. Of course, it speaks about “working” at a marriage; that’s what we commit to on our wedding day. When all working fails, however, the whole notion of “staying together for the sake  [Read more...]

While obesity affects both women and men, it’s women who more often, in my experience, will eventually seek professional assistance of some kind to lose weight, or do one quick-fix gimmick after another. Men, on the other hand, again in my experience and going by what they tell me when we meet for the  [Read more...]

When it comes to weight loss, and also to weight maintenance, there are 3 things that we are in control of 99% of the time: WHAT, HOW MUCH and WHEN we eat.     During your normal, everyday routines, and barring any extraordinary circumstances of course, you must plan your menus in advance  [Read more...]

As parents, we are responsible for the environment in which we raise our children — emotionally, physically, psychologically, socially and spiritually. That responsibility is enormous. All the years our children are home before spreading their wings and beginning the next chapters of their lives, they are listening to us, watching us, and soaking  [Read more...]

When you walk past an elementary school, or day camp, or food court at the mall, chances are that most of the kids you see are either overweight or obese.   What are parents of obese 8–10-year-old kids thinking when their children are gorging on 1/2-pound burgers with onion rings and fries, massive amounts  [Read more...]

Diets, especially fad diets or “quick-fix” plans — the pills, the powders, the packaged plans . . . a.k.a. “The Pitfall Programs” — often set you up for failure because: 📌 You feel deprived. Diets that cut out entire groups of food, such as carbs or fat, are simply impractical, not to mention  [Read more...]

Of the very long list of health problems that childhood obesity can create, another health problem is the development of ear, nose and throat problems . . . including the development of sleep apnea. Does your child snore? Does your child show other signs of disturbed sleep: long pauses in breathing, a lot of tossing  [Read more...]