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Weight Management – Not Just a Matter of Self-Control
Most people eat whatever you put in front of them. This at least is the quintessence of a best-selling book, titled “Mindless Eating – Why We Eat More Than We Think” (Bantam Books, 2006), by Brian Wansink. The author is not a medical doctor, dietitian, psychologist or a chef for that matter. Wansink is a professor for marketing in the Applied Economics and Management Department at Cornell University. His subject of interest is not what we should eat or stay away from. He wants to know why we eat what we eat and why we eat so much of it.
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Why Aren’t You Losing Weight?
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of diet plans out there restricting or pushing fat, carbs or protein. Each one has fervent believers and nonbelievers. A 2009 study in the New England Journal of Medicine attempted to answer one question: Which type of diet leads to more weight loss. The winner: All of them, or depending on the way you look at it – none of them.
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Food and Feelings
The magnetic relationship between feelings and the mismanagement of food is quite well known. “Emotional eating” is the label that is often used to describe this challenging connection. Some people eat when they’re miserable, others lose their appetite. There are those who forget about eating when they’re feeling over the top. And there are those who are determined to sustain pleasure through food. The variations are endless.
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Will Americans Ever Change Their Diet?
I am optimistic that Americans will change their diets for the better, but such changes don’t happen overnight. For example, we have seen that saturated fat has declined and egg consumption has decreased by about half. Some important changes can happen quickly by modification of the manufacturing process. This way we have cut trans fat intake by about 2/3 over the past five years. This was virtually invisible to consumers but has been a tremendous change for the better. We now need to do the same with salt, which primarily comes from processed foods.
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The Mid-Summer Diet
Millions of Americans think of the beginning of the year as the best time to diet and get back in shape. It’s called resolution season, and for many it is almost an annual ritual. The weight loss industry strongly supports this tradition and does the bulk of its business during this period. It’s not really a good plan when you think about it, though. With all this overindulging in festive meals, party foods and sweet treats over the holidays, your metabolism is most likely out of whack by the time you finally try to wean yourself from these unhealthy eating habits. So you face an uphill battle on two fronts by having to change your behavior and also to readjust your digestive system.
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Is Your Neighborhood Making You Fat?
Most individuals know that the key to good health is a combination of good nutrition, regular physical activity, stress management and genetics. Nutrition and regular physical activity, however, can take a backseat when your environment is one in which healthy foods – or even safe sidewalks – are almost impossible to find.
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Not All Healthy Foods Let You Lose Weight
Eating healthy is commonly associated with successful weight control. While many healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables, are indeed less fattening than their processed counterparts, it is still important to understand that being nutritious does not automatically equate to being low in calories or even fat content.
Overindulging in healthful foods, regardless of the nutritional benefits they provide, can sabotage your weight loss goals just as much as having bad eating habits.
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Both Marriage and Divorce Can Cause Weight Gain
After marriage, both men and women tend to gain some weight, but men tend to gain even more after divorce, according to a study that followed over 10,000 people to better understand the impact of people’s marital status on their health. The results showed that within two years of marriage most couple’s BMI values increased. But divorce also turned out to be a significant marker.
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Why Is Weight Loss So Hard?
Weight loss is the number one reason my clients make appointments with me. Many express frustration over their inability to do something as simple as losing a few pounds. At a conference presented by Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and the Boston Nutrition Obesity Research Center (July 13-14, 2011), researchers addressed some of the issues that contribute to the difficulties of losing weight. Perhaps the following highlights offer a few insights if you are among those who struggle with shedding some unwanted body fat.
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Breakfast – The Most Important Meal of the Day
My grandmother used to say: Never start your day before you had breakfast – and if you have to, at least eat something.” Granny knew nothing about the intricacies of modern-day dietetics, but her folksy philosophy was right on the money. Yes, you should not leave home in the morning on an empty stomach. So at least eat something, or even better, get a highly nutritious boost that fuels your body for the day ahead.
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Ten Tips to Host a Healthy Dinner Party
I’ve always loved entertaining in my home. The opportunity to have friends, family and food all coming together on a Saturday evening excites me. Lately, however, I’ve noticed that people appear to be more concerned about their health and what foods they choose to put into their mouth – so much so that people are actually intrigued to find out what healthy foods I will serve. If your goal is to provide healthy food at your next dinner party and still have your guests come back, consider these tips.
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What’s Your Relationship With Food?
Eating in response to emotions and stress has been linked to weight problems for decades. The implications: People who haven’t learned traditional coping skills are more likely to engage in emotional eating, which then leads to overweight or obesity. Some experts now suggest this link may not be so clear-cut. Regardless of how emotional eating begins, recognizing the signs and developing a new approach to eating are essential skills that are necessary to build a healthier relationship with food and with yourself.
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