diets and dieting

Healthy Eating 101

Tired of being on the dieting merry-go-round? Ready for a nutritional makeover? Then, I think you will enjoy reading Michael Pollan’s Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual. In this 140 page easy read, Pollan shares 64 simple principles for healthy eating including:

Resolve To Not Look Old and Not Look Fat

Ladies! It’s time for the resolutions of the new year and the promise to lose weight.

Recently, I have become aware of a parallel universe, one where there are no grains in the diet. It is quite a challenge to learn to cook without any grains—and to learn all the tricks for replacing grain-containing ingredients in favorite recipes.

I find it interesting to see books that circulate quickly. In other words, these books go out and then return within a few days. Most of the books in my unscientific examination of book turnaround fall into one category: diets.

Yet again, I find myself attempting to take some weight off. It is a never ending struggle for me. This time, however, I am amazed at the overwhelming amount of books and online resources available to help and encourage me. The library literally has hundreds of books on the subjects of weight loss, diet, and exercise. We have a wealth of books on health topics and how to change your diet to improve your health. There are also a lot of exercise DVDs that can be checked out to get us moving!

Does anyone else still feel full? I was still full from Thanksgiving, and now that Christmas is over, I think it’s time to go on a water and salad diet. No more turkey. No more ham. No more casseroles. Absolutely no more cookies, candy, and pie! I’m definitely going to have to dust off the treadmill and pilates mat.

Well, the unofficial beginning of summer is two months away. Backyard barbeques, trips to the lake, and outdoor activities mean that wearing shorts, bathing suits, and sleeveless tops is just around the corner. And I have yet to lose any of the weight I gained over the fall and winter. I was rudely shocked into reality when I began switching out my fall/winter wardrobe for my spring/summer one, and I realized that the vast majority of my clothes don’t fit me anymore! So, it’s time to get serious about losing the extra pounds and inches I’ve been holding on to for too lon

On a recent visit to Spain, I found living proof that the Mediterranean diet works. Walking through the streets and people-watching, I couldn’t help noticing that the population, as a whole, is incredibly fit and active. There are very few overweight people. For years, scientists have noticed that Mediterranean countries have less obesity and the related health problems: hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. The key seems to be the diet.

Let me start by saying I've tried pretty much every diet out there. I've limited my fat intake. I've limited my carbs. I've limited my sugar consumption. And, it never worked. Not really. Maybe it would have if I played by the rules, but I always felt too helplessly deprived for that to ever be a real possibility. I'd eat my allotted portion and go to bed hungry. In a week, I'd return to my old ways and push the cardio so that I could indulge my sweet tooth.

Everyone who’s ever gone on that epic weight loss journey has found some aspect of it difficult. Maybe, it’s like pulling teeth to find the time to cook. Maybe, your willpower is lacking. Maybe, the smallest workout winds you. Maybe, chocolate chip cookies are your weakness. Living a healthy lifestyle isn’t the easy choice to make after all. It’s the right one though! I’m convinced of that. In July, I decided to join Jillian Michaels’ weight loss program, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

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