Saturday 28 May 2011

Question: Does NLP help you lose weight?

Answer: We'll see very soon.

Now, if you'd asked me this question years ago I think my answer would be a firm 'no'. Of course I knew nothing of it - bar creepy men placing unwitting victims in embarrassing chicken-like trances.  Let's just call me an unwavering and proud skeptic.

Even when I read about the astonishing weight loss hypnotherapy success of Lily Allen, I dismissed it as poppycock. Now was that because I really did think that? Or is it because I wanted to?!?

But over the years I've realised just what a powerful tool the human brain can be. I'd bought hypnotherapy CDs and MP3s of the year, including the famous Paul McKenna "Make Yourself Thin", but I have to say it never really stuck...

Yet I perservered with the idea and decided that only face-to-face weight loss hypnotherapy would do. My biggest hurdle (after the cost) was navigating the idea that someone could plant any suggestion in my head...

Let's just say that it wasn't anything like that for me.  My NLP practitioner is 100% professional and a genuinely nice person who set me at ease almost instantly.  When you're in a trance-like state, you're always in control. After all, you're the creator of the solution. Your therapist just helps facilitate that. Crucially, you are always awake... but very relaxed!

Over the past few weeks I've learned a number of NLP techniques over a course of five sessions which has (and will continue to) helped me address much more than my weight issues. After all - whether I like to admit it or not - my weight is a symptom, rather than the problem itself. I can kid myself that fat people are jolly and all, but if they are I certainly haven't shared that experience.

It's a life-long journey and it's still early days, but we're certainly off to a very promising and exciting start!

May the weight loss be with you

Carrie Fisher is the latest celeb to credit Jenny Craig for her weight loss. 

Despite my own bad experiences on the programme some 20 years ago, I have to say it looks and sounds like it's done her a world of good. In just 18 weeks she's slimmed her 5'1" frame from 180lbs to 150lbs... and that's just a start.

It's no wonder why. She revealed: "I used to feel like I had to apologize for the way I looked whenever I stepped out of the house...I spent so much energy coming up with reasons why I was overweight.

"Now, whenever someone compliments me, I smile and say, ‘well, thank you.' It's a great feeling to feel like myself again, and that I am truly worthy of those compliments.

"I no longer want to hide in the house," she adds.

I've had a taste of that freedom in the past and it's one that should be savoured, cherished and - most importantly - protected.

But, it's easy to take these feelings for granted and allow temptations to get in the way of weeks, months and years of hard work. 

It's still early days for me, but I think it's worth thinking about.  My first milestone, I'm sure, will bring with it the first wave of freedom - and it's only 19lbs away.

On the 344 pounds blog there are lots of great ideas to inspire and sustain weight loss (and maintenance!) momentum.  His is a truly inspiring story and he's done it without fads or gimmicks. I've only started looking through the entries, but I like the idea of regularly posting pre-weight loss pics and reminding yourself of the real benefits of losing weight.

Stars go goo goo over the baby food diet

Chery Cole is the latest celeb being linked to the baby food diet plan. Developed by trainer to the stars, Tracy Anderson, this detox plan is rumoured to have helped Jennifer Aniston shed 7lbs in just one week.  Jen, however, has denied turning to baby foods in the past, saying that the last time she ate the stuff was when she was "one".

The plan consists of 14 portions of puree a day, followed by an adult, healthy meal in the evenings.  Its creator told Hollyscoop.com: "I developed a cleanse where you can still eat and it's a lot of puree foods. I was very careful about the foods I chose to put in it. 

"When you do these liquid cleanses I felt a responsibility to come up with something. Liquid cleanses do help you lose weight but you will gain more the next week. I wanted something where you can eliminate toxicity, break bad habits but still have your digestive system going. That is when the baby food cleanse was born."

While there's no doubting that this diet is a short-term solution, there could be lessons to be learned here. It's a reminder of the importance of two things: portion control and the power of wholesome fruit and veg.  Keeping your food servings small and your ingredients healthy are key to losing weight and - importantly - sustaining it!

Get fit? Get a dog!

Among the random stats in my head is one which crops up everytime I take my pet Nabrador out for a walk:



Dog owners walk - on average - 7 hours more than those who choose a canine-free life

So why are 55% of dogs obese? [Ed - And cat lovers, don't think that lets you off the hook. Some 53% of moggies are clinically obese!] And - on a selfish note - why am I still. Seven hours of walking alone with my dog would burn off a couple pounds a week! Of course - the answer lies in my lacksadaisical approach to dog walking... I wish it weren' true, but it is.


While I can't promise that I'm going to fit in one hour every day, I am going to make a concerted effort to get us out and about more often. Not only does it get us fit, but it gives old Barney a chance to catch up with friends, check out the ladies and give that tennis ball a good run for its money!


Thinking of getting fit with your dog? Check out Alison Sweeney's tips on taking positive steps! And, for the more daring, look into some human-dog sporting activities - like canine cross country!


Want to know more about the health benefits of walking the dog? Check this out:








Raw food diet: does it work?

Recently I've been enjoying Nakd raw bars - they're absolutely yummy - so it only makes sense to consider the benefits of the raw food diet.  Before making any decision it's worth studying the research available... as well as people's personal experiences.

Steve Pavlina challenged himself to 30-days on the raw food diet. His blog records every meal he ate during this time, as well as blood sugar readings. It's really interesting stuff. While there are many benefits to this raw vegan lifestyle, there are some drawbacks, such as dry skin. That said, I'd rather have dry skin than a heart attack!

There are a few rules to this alkaline diet. All you need to remember is FWGW:

no Faces - eat nothing that has come from a being with a face (e.g. no fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, yoghurt, butter)

no Whites - just say no to refined white flours, sugars, etc.

Greens - eat lots of greens, even as a juice.

Wholefoods - aim to eat fresh plants and avoid pre-packaged foods.

GreenSmoothie suggests that eighty per cent of your diet should be raw to be considered a raw food enthusiast. More info on raw food choices.

Thursday 26 May 2011

Less weight... more vitamin D

Stuck for a good reason to lose weight?

Well, another benefit of weight loss is enhanced protection against osteoporosis! Losing just 5 per cent of your body weight increases vitamin D levels in the obese, according to research released by the Fred Hutchinson Research Centre.

So what does this mean?

Vitamin D - which isn't technically a vitamin - is used by the body to help improve muscle strength, boost immunity, reduce inflammation, increase absorption of calcium and monitor calcium and phosphate levels in the bloodstream. The latter helps to protect against rickets and osteoporosis as it maintains bone strength and density.

Some studies have linked Vitamin D with reduced risk of cancer, but according to the the National Cancer Institute, the findings of some of these studies have been inconsistent.

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Strawberry, banana and vanilla smoothie

When it comes to my favourite food smells vanilla tops my list every time. This smoothie recipe will give you two hearty servings which are 4 ProPoints each.

150 g frozen strawberries
1 ripe med.  banana
1 tsp vanilla extract
150 g low-fat, plain yoghurt
500 ml skimmed milk

Blend until smooth in a blender or with a hand-held electric whisk.

Smoothie of the day: Banana & Raspberry smoothie

Perfect for breakfast or even a sunny afternoon's treat, this banana and raspberry smoothie is yummy and totally guilt-free. It's only 2 ProPoints.


200 g frozen raspberries (or strawberries if the mood takes)
1 banana (you may find that a frozen banana gives a nicer texture)
150 ml fat-free yoghurt

Blend together and enjoy!

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Could a vacation from food work for you (and me)?

Liquid diets have long been effective - at least in the short-term - at reducing the pounds.  But they've had a bad rap in recent years over malnutrition. In some cases dieters have died following a stint on a liquid-only regime.

But is there anything we can learn from them?

For one dieter, sticking to a liquid diet for 12 weeks gave her weight loss the jump start it needed. In six months she has lost 80 lbs! Of course this has been backed by teaching herself about healthy eating and making real lifelong changes.

Motivation is hard to come by at times for dieters with more than 3 stone to lose. Like the girl who just needs to lose a stone, we want results quickly... even if we know that it will take at least 18 months to reach our weight loss goal at a rate of 1 to 2 lbs per week.  Perhaps a quick loss over a fixed period backed by a sustainable eating plan is the way to go forward.

Last week my GP offered to put me on Weight Watchers - it isn't Lighter Life but it's a fixed regime that can get my weight going in the right direction with support. Strongly considering it!!

Thursday 19 May 2011

Biggest Loser's Bob Harper takes the hard line on weight loss

Forget unicorns and fairies, kids. There's no such thing as plateaus, either. According to the Biggest Loser's Bob Harper - speaking at a corporate event - it's a sign that you're not quite completely committed to making the changes needed.

He suggests kickstarting the metabolism every day by drinking a full glass of water upon waking - followed by breakfast within a half-hour. Your metabolism slows down over the course of the day, so a mid-afternoon workout can boost this. And when you get home? Make sure its protein and veggies only.

Confidence is important. He explains: "Weight loss is about a lifestyle change, he said. But you have to believe in yourself and trust the process."


“You’re gonna mess up. We all do,” he said. “But you get to start over.”

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Get thin? Get pregnant (hormones)!

What is it about pregnant women that makes them so. well. magical? I remember - years ago - reading about how wealthy celebrities were bathing in pregnant women's urine in the hopes of finding the fountain of youth.  In the 'now I've heard everything' section of the blog, I give you the HCG Diet.

Participants apparently suppress their hunger with daily injections of hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin. They can exist on as little as 500 calories a day while undergoing treatment. While hCG hasn't been approved by the FDA for this use, people are queuing up to pay for this more unusual treatment.

Personally I think I'll forgo imbibing urine. Call me old fashioned, but it just doesn't seem right, effective or - most importantly - safe.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Three weeks to change!

I am now halfway through week 2 and I can feel myself wavering. Call it impatience, call it irrationality. Whatever you call it, I'm having to garner all of my energies to stay positive and keep focused on the goal.  

It's all about making habits and those take time -as much as three weeks. And when you think about it, that's not a very big timeframe. Any pain involved is constricted to that initial 21 day period. This should not be news to me as over the past few years I have already set a few good ones in place which I can't see myself changing, such as:
  • Swapped semi-skimmed milk for 0% fat varieties
  • Swapping refined flours for unrefined varieties
  • Removing excess salt and sugars from my general diet
  • Eliminated sugary drinks
Of course, there's always room for change in my life - particularly where my diet is concerned. This week I've begun introducing activities into my schedule after a winterlong break.  My log so far (including plans for the rest of the week) is:

Saturday
90 min walk

Sunday
90 min gardening

Monday
30 min walk

Tuesday
30 min walk
30 min swim

Wednesday (TBC)
30 min walk
30 min swim

Thursday
30 min walk
30 min rock climb

Friday
30 min walk

It's only week one, but the goal is to walk at least 30 minutes per day and enjoy a range of activities that will help me lose and eventually keep the weight at bay.

Monday 16 May 2011

Sleep is the slimmer's friend

Missing just one night of sleep can slow your metabolism's performance the next day by 5 per cent according to a European study.

Looking at the sleeping habits of 14 young men, researchers found that missing a single night's sleep reduced the number of  calories spent on basic functions, such as digesting and breathing by 5 per cent when compared with the morning after a good eight hour sleep.


The Swedish researchers suggest that sleeping for eight hours each  of sleep per night might even prevent weight gain.

Christian Benedict writes: "Our findings show that one night of sleep deprivation acutely reduces energy expenditure in healthy men, which suggests sleep contributes to the acute regulation of daytime energy expenditure in humans."



While this isn't news to me, it's something that's quite easy to forget - especially when you've been missing some sleep!  Let's just say it's an early night for me today. 

P.S. Another interesting sleep/weight loss study can be found on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's Sleep Education blog.

Sensational peanut butter and banana smoothies!

One of my short-term goals is to keep my tastebuds happy with foods that I've always regarded as a bit indulgent or comforting.  That's why I treated myself  to a peanut butter and banana breakfast smoothie... for dinner! 
After all, one can't live on salad alone!

As a milkshake afficianado, I have to say it was hard to resist putting ice cream in (or a Snickers!), but it sure was out of this world!

Ingredients

1 large, ripe (or even overripe) banana (NB: using a frozen banana gives a nice texture to the smoothy)
2 tbsp. peanut butter (smooth)
1 tbsp. honey
8 oz skimmed/0% fat milk

I'm on the lookout for other winning smoothie combos. If you have a good recipe, please post it here! I'm particularly looking for a gingerbread one :)

Sunday 15 May 2011

Can chocolate be healthy?

 As part of the NLP, I underwent chocolate aversion therapy. It put an immediate end to my naughty cravings for chocolate bars, chocolate chip cookies... and well, anything chocolate that is unhealthy. It's worked a treat, but I do have a longing for little healthy treats which I can have every now and again.
Nakd bars are one way I've managed this. These raw food treats are out of this world and come in flavours like ginger bread, pecan pie and cocoa delight. They are quite dear, however, so I've been looking for a way to cook (or not in this case) something similar up at home.

And I discovered the most amazing blog - Chocolate-covered Katie. She's a goddess of healthy goodness :)  Some of the ingredients are hard to find on the high street in the UK - but luckily ingredients like Artisana coconut butter can be sourced easily via Amazon for just over £10.

 

Why gastric band surgery isn't right for me... right now.

I would be a liar if I said I'd never considered gastric band surgery... but when I read stories of gastric band complications which result in fatalities, I'm reminded of how some 'get thin quick' plans can come at a high cost.

Don't get me wrong, I've heard plenty of success stories of how gastric bands and bypasses change lives, but I hear far too many where it hasn't quite gone as plan.

In most of these cases, the problems have arisen as a result of poor eating habits and a lack of exercise. I've even heard a case of someone who managed to gain weight on a band!  If I were to go down this route in the future, I'd want to be well-prepared and in the right mindset. Take post-bariatric diets, for example. Would you know what types of food you could or couldn't eat? And what about vitamins?

For now I will stick to the eat less and move more plan. Ok, so it's not exciting and it certainly won't lose you all of your excess weight in a matter of weeks - but it comes with no strings attached. And, guess what? I will be able to enjoy normal foods (in moderately sized portions, of course), engage in normal activities and I'll know that it's my blood, sweat and tears that helped me get to the final goal. 

Saturday 14 May 2011

Weigh in day: week 1

There's nothing like a week one weigh in as, for me, it's normally an exciting whopper loss. True to form it was as the scales registered 19 s 0.5lbs (266lbs).  While it's something I have come to expect, I'm aware that anticipating a huge weight loss is both unrealistic and sure to doom my efforts.

Take last night for example. I'm a scale watcher - checking them daily (if not more). Yesterday morning I was pleased when I woke up and it said 19s 1.75lbs. After all, it's nice to see that eating healthily with plenty of veg is paying off.

So why did I re-check the scales at 6pm that night... just after dinner! Scales read 19s 5lbs! While rational me attempted to draw conclusions (e.g. drinking a lot of water, the size of the meal, etc), irrational me went into overdrive (e.g. What's the point, anyway? You're always going to be fat...). Thankfully, it was only for a minute or two and before I could do any real damage by raiding the fridge.

In the past I have allowed situations like this to bring about the end of my diet. One technique I picked up from my hypnotherapy for weight loss is questioning what is true before these bad thoughts are the undoing of you. For example:

Negative thought: I am always going to be fat.
Question: Is that true?
Answer: Not really, not if I try.
Question: Is that really true?
Answer: Definitely no.
Question: What person would I be without that negative thought?
Answer: I'd be more confident in my ability to lose weight and I'd be happy because I wouldn't have anyone nagging me.

Just as I'm carrying lots of extra weight, I carry plenty of negative thoughts about myself, my life and my body. These have been addressed within the hypnotherapy/NLP sessions to some extent but it's down to me to keep them in check.  One thing I can say for certain is that my weight loss is nothing compared to the weighty negative thoughts I've lost over the past few weeks.

So 9lbs lost this week - but that's not my only accomplishment. I've been challenging my taste buds over the past few weeks and last night tried tuna steaks (Asian style with stirfry and noodles) for the first time. Wow! Delicious and incredibly healthy!

My goal next week? I'd like to lose at least 1lb. Anything more is a bonus. Oh - and I want to try salmon and rhubarb. Not together, of course! They're two foods which I've really disliked in the past - so I'm going to see if my taste buds enjoy them now.  If I find any good recipes, I'll post them on here!

Friday 13 May 2011

How d'ya like them apples?

When you're overweight there's no hell quite like going to the doctor. So you can imagine how I felt when I heard that the doctor wanted to speak to me about my blood test results as my cholesterol was running high.

But sometimes it isn't like that, for one reason or another. It could be that the doctor preferred gentle encouragement, or maybe my new proactive approach to my weight meant that I dealt with the situation more confidently. Whatever the case may be, I left the doctors office aware of the situation and confident that I could get this problem under control.

The biggest ways of reducing cholesterol levels naturally are through changes to your diet and exercise. And dropping just 10% of your body weight can make a real difference. For me that means dropping 2 stone (28lbs) or reaching 17 s 9 (247lbs).  Although I know it's a rough road ahead, I'm feeling certain I can navigate it.

One interesting tidbit I found while looking for ways to reduce cholesterol was the power of eating apples. It seems the old adage "an apple a day" really carries some weight to it... and damned well beats eating prunes every day.  While prunes aren't awful, they aren't as lovely and socially acceptable as a nice, crunchy apple.

If you're looking for snacking inspiration, why not check this out?

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Question: Does NLP help you lose weight?

Answer: We'll see very soon.

Now, if you'd asked me this question years ago I think my answer would be a firm 'no'. Of course I knew nothing of it - bar creepy men placing unwitting victims in embarrassing chicken-like trances.  Let's just call me an unwavering and proud skeptic.

Even when I read about the astonishing weight loss hypnotherapy success of Lily Allen, I dismissed it as poppycock. Now was that because I really did think that? Or is it because I wanted to?!?

But over the years I've realised just what a powerful tool the human brain can be. I'd bought hypnotherapy CDs and MP3s of the year, including the famous Paul McKenna "I can make your thin", but I have to say it never really stuck...


Yet I perservered with the idea and decided that only face-to-face weight loss hypnotherapy would do. My biggest hurdle (after the cost) was navigating the idea that someone could plant any suggestion in my head...

Let's just say that it wasn't anything like that for me.  My NLP practitioner is 100% professional and a genuinely nice person who set me at ease almost instantly.  When you're in a trance-like state, you're always in control. After all, you're the creator of the solution. Your therapist just helps facilitate that. Crucially, you are always awake... but very relaxed!

Over the past few weeks I've learned a number of NLP techniques over a course of five sessions which has (and will continue to) helped me address much more than my weight issues. After all - whether I like to admit it or not - my weight is a symptom, rather than the problem itself. I can kid myself that fat people are jolly and all, but if they are I certainly haven't shared that experience.

It's a life-long journey and it's still early days, but we're certainly off to a very promising and exciting start!

Get fit? Get a dog!

Among the random stats in my head is one which crops up everytime I take my pet Nabrador out for a walk:

Dog owners walk - on average - 7 hours more than those who choose a canine-free life


So why are 55% of dogs obese? [Ed - And cat lovers, don't think that lets you off the hook. Some 53% of moggies are clinically obese!] And - on a selfish note - why am I still. Seven hours of walking alone with my dog would burn off a couple pounds a week! Of course - the answer lies in my lacksadaisical approach to dog walking... I wish it weren' true, but it is.

While I can't promise that I'm going to fit in one hour every day, I am going to make a concerted effort to get us out and about more often. Not only does it get us fit, but it gives old Barney a chance to catch up with friends, check out the ladies and give that tennis ball a good run for its money!

Thinking of getting fit with your dog? Check out Alison Sweeney's tips on taking positive steps! And, for the more daring, look into some human-dog sporting activities - like canine cross country!

Want to know more about the health benefits of walking the dog? Check this out:




Tuesday 10 May 2011

Jenny Craig tops Consumer Reports diet plan review

Wondering which diet to sign up for? Weight Watchers? Slim-Fast

Well, according to Consumer Reports pre-packaged diet plan Jenny Craig might be a good bet.  The latest research indicates that - after 2 years - 92% of those following Jenny Craig diets are still following the programme.

With food plans priced at approximately $200 per week it must be good... Of course the same study found that participants - on average - were just 8% lighter after two years. That means that every 1% loss equates to a whopping $2600!!

While maintaining any loss is better than a gain, I long for a diet plan that sees you losing (and keeping off) the pounds - not your wallet!

How to drop a dress size in 5 days

Why is it that when we diet, all senses of reality go out the window? Maybe it's the instant gratification culture we live in or food colours inducing ADHD, but we just can't seem to wrap our head around long-term, slow paced healthy options which deliver lifelong rewards?!?

But who I am to comment - my first thoughts when I saw this article were: "Really?!? You mean with one diet I can drop a whole dress size in just five days?"

Of course, the real world set in as I started reading. It's like navigating a sea of caveats, such as:



When we switch into desperation mode it's so difficult to switch off the idea of a crash diet... They offer a short-term fix and the promise that you'll look that bit slimmer, feel more confident, etc on your big night!

But isn't that why - on the eighth day - God invented Spanx?

There's a ton of research out there which identifies the pitfalls of 'get thin quick' crash diets - but I don't need a lab coat to tell you that just as you didn't gain a dress size in five days, you most likely won't lose one in such a short time. 

Of course there are those who will prove me wrong. To them, I give a salute. You've made the ultimate sacrifice to the dieting Gods, succeeding where most of us fail...

But, I have to ask, is it really worth it for a night or two?





  
  

60 minutes of daily exercise keeps weight gain at bay

Spending just an hour a day participating in moderate exercise could be enough to stave off weight gain, according to the latest study findings from America.

What is moderate exercise?

According to Dr I-Min Lee, the lead author of the study - which is reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association - "'Moderate intensity' means brisk walking, casual bicycling, ballroom dancing, playing with the grandchildren."


This type of exercise can be introduced easily and cheaply into one's day. The NHS, for example, suggest taking little steps. Try walking uphill, enjoy long strolls and walk to and from the shops. And that last one could save you pounds while you lose them, too. That makes good sense to me!

Now That You've Lost It: How to Maintain Your Best Weight

Gastric bypasses linked with increased risk of alcoholism

Fancy trading in your eating addiction? According to the latest diet research from Sweden, bariatric surgery candidates who opt for a gastric bypass over a lapband could be running the risk of alcoholism.

While researchers have long been aware of the higher risk of alcohol absorption which follows a stomach staple, the new findings - announced in Chicago earlier this week - are the first to suggest a link with alcohol abuse.

The study examined records or 12,277 patients who underwent bariatric surgery over a 26 year period. Comparing them with 122,770 control subjects, researchers found that - before surgery - the obese patients demonstrated a much higher risk of depression, attempted suicide and alcoholism. And - despite surgery - these risks remained high.

Shining the spotlight on alcoholism, researchers discovered that gastric bypass patients were 230% more likely to suffer from alcoholism than their counterparts who underwent lapband surgery.