Why only 5% of dieters achieve success

Over the course of the past two years, I've learned a lot about myself and the strategies that are important for me to use to maintain my new weight.

Maintenance is not a destination. To me it's a continuation of a process of refinement of the habits that I developed to lose weight. Once I reached my goal weight, I was determined to make this a lifestyle and not to return to my old ways. I knew that to keep the weight off my new behaviors needed to continue.

Long-term maintenance of behaviors is something we can all achieve when we focus the reasons that forced us to lose weight. For me focusing on my health was the catalyst that changed my whole perspective and allowed me to take a different look at my life.

I better understand now that my experiences both good and painful are here to help me grow and evolve. I continue to take personal responsibility for the decisions I make throughout my day.  Sure they’re not always the best but I've learned that it's okay not to be perfect.

Tracking was a very important weight loss tool for me and one that I've continued in maintenance. I continue to weigh myself daily.

Why is it that only 5% of dieters are able to lose weight and keep it off? Who knows the exact number, but it's a very small percentage. I’m sure, there are many more that lose weight initially, but keeping it off is a whole other story.

Big challenge

 

Making healthy choices during holidays is one of my biggest challenges.

Make an eating plan for tomorrow

Planning in advance of what and when to eat is an important element of our struggle to lose weight. We are more likely to make good choices if we have a plan of what and when to eat. Our day will go more smoothly and our weight loss efforts will stay on track if we have an eating plan. Take time to plan eating for weight loss success and keep your plan simple so it will be easy to follow through. This does take some time and effort, but it's well worth it, because if we maintain healthy eating long enough it will become our “new normal”.

NYC 2013 Half Marathon

 

I ran NYC 2013 Half Marathon last Sunday.  It was very cold but it was also a lot of excitement.

 

Almost fifteen thousand runners from twenty-two different countries participated in the race.

 

It was so inspiring to be there with thousands of other runners.

 

Running South on Seventh Avenue and through Times Square with no cars around will be a memory I will cherish forever.

 

Continued weight losss challenges

Some people tell me that I should not have these challenges, weak moments, inconsistency issues or whatever we may call it.

The successful weight loser, the one that lost 91 pounds and maintained for two years, realized that the natural laws of weight gain (regain) apply to me, too.

Yes they do. I start regaining weight when I deviate from the eating method that helped me lose weight. I don’t know why I was so disappointed when I noticed it for the first time.

The good news is that by resuming full compliance with the Eat Like Me eating method I managed to bring back weight to my lovely 170 pounds number. I know now that I need to focus on the situations and circumstances that lead to making poor choices.

How the foods are created and sold to people

How the foods are created and sold to people

Michael Moss of New York Times talked to more than 300 people in or formerly employed by the processed-food industry, from scientists to marketers to C.E.O.’s.

After over four years of research and reporting he found that it was a conscious effort — taking place in labs and marketing meetings and grocery-store aisles — to get people hooked on foods that are convenient and inexpensive.

Moss sheds light on how the foods are created and sold to people who appear to be extremely vulnerable to the intensity of the food industry’s formulations and selling campaigns.

A must read article The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food in February 20, 2013 New York Times.

Show your heart some love

February is Heart Health Month so show your heart some love.

Keeping your heart healthy starts with a healthy lifestyle.

People often don't realize that their diet and lifestyle contribute to their risk for developing heart disease.

Some risk factors that can be changed, such as lifestyle choices.

There are a number of lifestyle and diet changes that can help you reduce your risk for developing heart disease.

The main factors that contribute to heart disease are physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and excessive alcohol intake.

You want to make changes in your life if you have one or more of these factors.

Having a healthy diet is essential to having a healthy heart because a balanced and nutritious diet reduces the risk heart disease.

What positive lifestyle changes have you made to improve your overall health and wellness?

What helps you live a healthy lifestyle?

I encourage you to begin a conversation with your doctor about your risk factors and ways to take action early on.

You should know and understand your numbers like cholesterol or blood sugar to be aware of and manage your risk for heart disease.