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The purpose of our blog is to share what we have learned about nutrition, weight loss, fitness, and health, in order to help you find ways to feel better and live longer. It is amazing how much our diet and lifestyle affect our health and well-being.

Did you know that you can reduce your risk and even prevent many diseases and health conditions simply by making some changes to your diet? Check back often for valuable tips and information.

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT & KEEP IT OFF:

For the first time in my life I have found weight loss success. During my adult life I have tried dozens and dozens of so-called "diets" and none of them worked over the long-haul. Oh, I was able to lose weight with some of them, but once I went off of the "diet" I quickly gained back all of my weight (plus some).

I have finally learned that losing weight has to be a lifestyle change, not a temporary fix. Crash diets and all the other crazy diets will not only cause you to fail, they are harmful to your health. To lose weight and keep it off you must NOT go on a "diet." What? Why? Because we all consider a "diet" a temporary thing. For example, how many times have you said, "Oh, I will go on this low-fat diet until I lose 20 pounds." Okay, what happens after you lose the 20 pounds? Or you simply give up? You go back to your old habits and gain that 20 pounds back.

The only way you will ever be successful at losing weight, with the added benefit of improving your health, is to make healthy changes that you can live with for the rest of your life. Period. Not for a week, a month or 3 months, but for life. For me, my initial goal was to lower my cholesterol level. I had to have a blood test for my insurance coverage and my cholesterol level had to be lower than the previous year's levels or I would have to pay a much higher premium. Well, that was a pretty good incentive for me make some positive changes.

I sat down and figured out what I needed to do. I knew I had to change the way I ate and I knew I had to exercise in some form or other every day. So, I made a list and I stuck to it. It was difficult at first. To make matters worse, I am a compulsive eater. However, as the days went by, it became much easier because my body stopped craving sweets and processed foods. For the first time in my life, I was never tempted to binge because I never felt deprived.

Use the list below and make whatever changes you need to make in order for it to work for you. FYI, my cholesterol level dropped 65 points after 7 weeks, and my triglycerides dropped 70 points! Another benefit that I hadn't planned on was that after being an insomniac since my teen-age years, I now sleep like a baby every night!

MY LIST FOR WEIGHT LOSS SUCESS:

1. Avoid "white" Foods & Processed Foods. These foods have no nutritional value and are "empty" calories. Sweets, anything made with white flour,and anything that comes in a package with a long list of ingredients. Always read the food labels. Stay away from those long lists of ingredients. The longer the list, the more chemicals and additives are present. These are extremely toxic to your body.

2. Drink Lots of Water. Water keeps your body's organs hydrated and flushes out unhealthy toxins. It helps to fill you up and reduces your urge to over-eat.

3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast. Instead of coffee and donuts, try fruit, yogurt, grains like oatmeal or whole grain toast, and lean protein. NEVER skip breakfast. By eating a large, healthy meal when you get up in the morning, your metabolism will "rev up" and you will not be hungry by mid-morning. If you skip breakfast, your body will go into starvation mode and store calories in your body as FAT, yes FAT! So do yourself a big favor and eat breakfast.

4. Reduce Your Stress Level. So many of us live with too much stress. Stress lowers your immune system, making it easier to get sick. It also makes us lethargic, tired, and depressed. There are a lot of simple things you can do and a lot of ways to feel better about yourself and your life. Take a long, hot bath, read a book, listen to music, get a massage. Do something nice for yourself. Giving yourself something to look forward to is a tremendous mental incentive.

5. Move! Oh my gosh! There are so many ways to incorporate movement into your day, even at work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get up every hour and walk around your floor, your hallway or your desk. Park your car in the farthest space from where you need to be. Walk or bike to work. Skate, dance, golf, jump rope, clean house, play tag. The best exercise you can do is to walk. Try to take a walk every day! The more you move, the more your metabolism will be your friend. (I walk 3 miles every day whether it is raining, snowing or freezing.)

How to Help Your Overweight Teenager

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If you are a parent of an overweight teenager, it can be a challenging experience to help them lose weight. If you want to help your teenage with their weight loss efforts, here are some tips that may prove helpful:

INCLUDE THE WHOLE FAMILY: Make losing weight a family affair. Rather than just concentrating on your teen, try to adopt healthy lifestyle habits as a family. Eating healthier foods at home and getting more exercise is good for every member of the family. Encourage family members to eat more fruits, veggies and whole grains.

Prepare menus that contain healthy food groups to ensure that your family is getting all the nutrients that they need. Leave junk food on the shelves when you do your shopping at the grocery store. Healthy foods may sometimes cost more, but it is worth the investment as it concerns the health of your whole family.

BE FLEXIBLE: Allow occasional treats as a break from the usual. That late-night pizza with friends or nachos at the mall doesn't need to be totally excluded from your teen's healthy-eating plan. Suggest a healthier alternative instead such as a breadstick and marinara sauce instead of garlic bread dripping in butter and cheese.

You can also opt for ordering a shared snack instead of a full-size order to lessen the portions. You can let your teen know that they also have control over their own eating choices and an occasional indulgence is acceptable. Developing healthier habits is what really matters rather than banishing your kid's favorite food totally.

BE ACTIVE TOGETHER: Plan fun and highly active family outings, such as regular walks in the park, swimming at the local YMCA or weekend visits to a local recreation center. Such activities can greatly help keep your kids stay active. These activities are also a great way for the whole family to bond and enjoy each one's company.


 BE POSITIVE: Because your child is overweight, their feelings should be put into consideration. How they feel about themselves can affect their motivation to lose weight. As a parent, you can actually influence how your kids feel about themselves. You must help them realize that being overweight doesn't inevitably lead to a lifetime of having low self-esteem.

Your acceptance of their condition is critical. Listen to your teen's concerns. Provide positive comments on their efforts, skills and accomplishments. You must make it clear that your love and concern is unconditional and not dependent on weight loss. This will make them more secure and confident in staying motivated to lose weight.

EAT BREAKFAST: This is usually a thing that is hit or miss in most families. However, breakfast is a must and will help your teen from staving off those extra pounds. It may take some constant urging for your teen to get up early for breakfast, but always bear in mind that it is extremely important.

A well-balanced nutritious breakfast at the start of the day will jump-start your teen's metabolism. This meal will be able to give them energy to face the day ahead. Even better, feeling full each morning before going out of the house may keep your teen from eating too much during the rest of the day.

These are just a few of the many things that you can do to help your teen from getting rid of excess pounds and keeping them off. It may take a bit of work on your part but the rewards can be seen in knowing that your kids are learning to live a healthier lifestyle and grow and develop into healthy adults.

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