How to Build a Healthy Sense of Entitelment

healthy-womanWhen I was at my heaviest weight, I was in the habit of putting myself last.  I lost a sense of who I was as a person.  I no longer cared about myself.  I thought that I did not matter.  Instead, I focused on others and what I they needed.  I lacked entitlement which is just another way of saying my needs do not matter.  I tried to figure out what others wanted from me rather than what I needed from them.

The process of losing weight may put you more in touch with yourself as a special person.  This was so true for me.  I realized that I had hit rock bottom and unless I focused on myself, I could die.  Losing weight took all my effort.  I had to put myself first.  Little by little, the notion clicked that I was as important as anyone else.  When you gain weight, you feel ashamed.  Shame leads to feeling that you do not matter.  Always remember that you are so valuable.  Lets go forward to losing weight!

Cheers,

Gina

Stress Eating

stress eatingAll of us have had the experience of eating food to help us cope and feel better.  You can refer to this as stress eating.  Stress eating is a double edged sword; it makes us feel better in the moment, but can also fill us with regrets.  You might feel that you have lost control or that you have eaten the wrong things and have strayed from your goals.

There are many different forms of stress.  Being bored can be stressful as well as being overly busy.  Stress can be triggered by anxious thoughts and by unfortunate circumstances.  I have come to realize that stress eating can be managed.  Your first step is to recognize what circumstances trigger the stress eating behavior.  When I feel stressed, I drink water and choose foods that are within my healthy choices.  Experiencing stress is inevitable.  How you cope with it is what counts! Take Care!

Cheers,

Gina

The Far Reaching Effects of a Lifestyle Change

Healthy Weight LossLosing weight meant going through a lifestyle change for me.  By this I mean, I needed to modify my eating habits and my sedentary ways.   I did not realize that changing those things would also effect my outlook on life and my self-esteem.  Generally, I see the world more positively now.  I use to perceive people as critical and judgmental.  I now view people as more engaging and accepting.  I feel more connected to people and that gives me a larger sense of purpose.

I want to engage with people more as opposed to isolating myself.  Internally my self-esteem has increased to the point that I feel at peace with myself.  I know longer feel hurt, ashamed and un-happy.  Changing my lifestyle around food goes well beyond weight loss.  It can give you a fresh outlook on life and yourself.  Weight Cliquers, have a marvelous day!!

Cheers,

Gina

Why Breakfast is Essential for Weight Loss

breakfastI have chosen breakfast as my main meal of the day.  The reason why I adapted to this habit is I am hungriest in the morning.  When I was morbidly obese, I use to eat snacks late at night and have a big dinner which did nothing for my weight loss.  Once I eliminated night time binging and enormous dinners, I started to consistently lose weight and began craving more in the AM.

I decided to make breakfast my main meal so I could burn off calories throughout the day.  The food that I eat during the day gives me energy.  I have learned that breakfast fires up your metabolism so you can get moving and feel pumped during the day.  I have no problem eating salmon or chicken in the morning.  Also, I have realized that breakfast does not have to be the traditional everyday cereal.  Incorporating a healthy protein breakfast is the best way to start your day off right.  Start motivating yourself with a delicious morning meal so you can feel amazing!

Cheers,

Gina

Do you have Swimsuit Phobia?

vintage-swimsuits_largeMost woman usually dread summer months.  When we expose so much more of our bodies to public view, we may feel nervous about how we appear.  Shame and embarrassment can keep us from the beach and other fun in the sun activities.  Rather than focus on your appearance, give attention to the excitement and laughter you could be experiencing with your family and friends.  Feel the exhilaration of swimming in the pool or ocean.

Take note that there are many, varied types of swimsuits and cover-ups that are on the market which could flatter your body.  This may boost your bathing suit confidence.  Pick a suit that makes you feel comfortable and at your best, no matter what your size is.  Enjoy every moment of your summer! Stay happy and feel wonderful about yourself!

Cheers,

Gina

Secrets of a Recovering Food Addict

binge-eating-disorderI would like to confess old eating habits that kept me in secret misery.  I use to privately pig out so no one would know how much I am binging.  If anyone knew the amount of take out I was devouring I would have died of embarrassment.  If there were a family dinner, I would usually make a secret trip to purchase fast food before attending a family gathering.  Typically, I would go to Mc Donald’s and lie about where I was going.  At my job, I was pretending I was on a diet when I was not.

I was constantly thinking about un-healthy goodies and ways of consuming it.  I had no idea what normal portions meant.  It was a slow process for me to recognize that I was addicted to food.  The realization dawned on me gradually.  For instance, one of my early discoveries was that carbs and sugar made me chronically hungry.  Once I truly understood that, I was able to decrease my consumption of carbs.  This strategy resulted in my losing weight and I started to gain confidence.  There is always hope for breaking food addiction.  The first step is to understand that your eating is out of control.  The next step is to take charge and get the quality support you deserve.  If I can recover from a food addiction.. you can, as well!!

Cheers,

Gina

Delectable go to Snacks

Healthy-Snacks-In-Workplace-600x450Snacks play a significant role in your diet because they add variety and are a reward system.  They give us that boost of energy when we need it.  Here are some of the goodies that I like to nibble on: Greek yogurt with or without fruit, cheese, nuts, coffee, sugar-free gum, vegetables and fruit.  Notice that these foods are nutritious as well as tasty.

Generally, I eat refreshments throughout the day.  It is important as with everything else on a balanced diet to snack with moderation.  Remember to avoid munching on too much grub.  If you are craving carbohydrates, select a delectable treat that has nutritional value instead.  As always, be certain to reward yourself with a low-calorie light meal.  Have a wonderful day- today!!!!

Cheers,

Gina

Are your Weight Loss Expectations Realistic?

scaleIf there were a quick and easy way of losing weight- we would all be thin.  Of course this is not the reality; weight loss is a serious challenge.  Talking from my own personal experience, I started to lose weight at the rate of 1-2 pounds a week.  I felt disappointed at first, because I wanted to lose about 4 pounds a week.  I now know that was un-realistic.  Fortunately, I did not get discouraged and continued my game plan of eating healthy, organic foods.

I was rewarded with continuing weight loss at a steady 1-2 pound drop every week.  This adds to big weight loss over time.  It is essential to be realistic in your expectations so that you do not get disappointed and quit.  Nutritional experts will advise that 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week is normal and healthy if you are consistent.  It goes without saying that fad diets and quick fixes do not work.  Setting realistic expectations is the first step you need to take in this weight loss process!  Enjoy!

Cheers,

Gina

How to Create a Balanced Attitude toward Losing Weight

Khloe-Kardashian-Fitness-MotivationWhat does it mean to possess the right mindset to drop weight? Many of us want to lose weight, but we only want to lose weight if it requires few sacrifices. I noticed that some people (like myself) want to exercise excessively, but retain their usual poor eating habits. This generally does not help to have a steady, successful weight loss.

Take me for instance, I realized that I want to go above and beyond to figure out how to lose weight naturally. As previously mentioned, I talked to a handful of physicians and received the support that I needed. I took notice of what foods increased my appetite. It is vital to take your weight loss goals seriously. I have come to learn that having a healthy attitude includes devising strategies that keep you in the right track when you feel tempted to eat the wrong things. You will know when your mind is in gear when you stop looking for short cuts for weight loss. Enjoy your week, Weight Cliquers!

Cheers,

Gina

The Benefits of Weighing in Daily

12844701-the-words-weigh-in-on-a-scale-representing-the-need-to-check-your-weight-while-dieting-and-watching-I am mindful that weighing in every morning helps me to stay accountable.  Having an awareness of my fluctuations in weight helps me to pin point my problem areas with food.  When the scale increases, I look at what I ate the day before and pay close attention to what have caused my weight to go up.  For instance, cheese is a healthy food, however if you eat too much of it you could gain weight.

I use a ledger method which was introduced to me by Jenny Craig.  The journal includes the date and my weight.  It’s a simple process of me calculating the changes from day to day.  It is a easy way to track trends in my weight journey.  I enjoy maintaining this daybook because it reminds me of my accomplishments.  I feel confident with losing weight and this practice boosts my experience, as well. It is very re-assuring that the Jenny Craig health coaches acknowledge that I know how to drop weight.  Weighing in is a ritual that I have incorporated to my typical day such as taking my morning supplements.  This approach has worked for me, I hope you can find a routine that works for you!

Cheers,

Gina