A lot of exercise books and programs focus on how they promote “fat loss.” When they promise that you’ll be in great shape, they show ripped people happily doing the workout. Hmmm. Folks like that always look healthy but we really don’t know. They’re fitness models and as far as we know, they might use …
March 2014 archive
Do You Still Believe in Weight Loss Scams?
Last week here in Chicago, King of the scammers Kevin Trudeau was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 10 years in jail. Clad in an orange prison jumpsuit, Trudeau stood before the judge and insisted “If I ever write a book again, if I ever do another infomercial again, I promise no embellishment, no puffery, …
Letting Go and Letting In Lifestyle Changes That Last
A lot of people I’ve talked to through the years will cite some particular experience or influence in their lives that they credit for “why” they finally got their weight under control after years of struggle and failure. But here’s what actually happens: We bring permanent lifestyle changes into our lives when we accept what …
If I Can Do It, You…Can’t Necessarily
I hate the expression “If I can do it, you can do it.” It really makes me mad! It’s ridiculous and completely baseless. Come on, there’s nothing about me that proves anything about you and vice versa. Taken one way, it’s self-deprecating. It appears to be sending the message, “If an idiot like me can …
Do You Avoid Working Out Because of Exercise Anxiety?
For those of us who have dealt with serious obesity, the thought of trying to exercise can be intimidating. I avoided physical activity in general for a long, long time. I had a sense of anxiety about working out even before Biggest Loser started making people believe that you were a failure unless you pushed …
Looking Back Over Lifetime Phases of Being Fat
I’ve dealt with weight all my life. I’ve always said my awareness of being “the fat girl” goes back as far as my memories of school. I realize I’ve considered weight with different perspectives at different times. I never let being fat become part of my identity but it has been the undercurrent of my …
Eating in Moderation Doesn’t Work for Everybody
I went to see this year’s Oscar winner for Best Picture, “12 Years a Slave.” I knew it would be an intense film but I was not prepared for how upset I’d be when it was over! I think I was caught up in the drama and then it all hit me at the end. …