I’m a fast eater. Maybe it’s because I’m originally from the GO GO GO New York metro area - or maybe I’m just wired that way (or as Lady Gaga would say – Born That Way). I eat fast + talk fast + walk fast. The only person I know who eats faster than I do is my husband (also an east coaster). If I look away for a minute, whoosh – his food is GONE! The single habit I’ve struggled most with on my own health journey has been eating slowly. But why does eating slowly matter? Why should we care? Did you know that our biological “satiety mechanism” kicks in about 20 minutes AFTER we start a meal? No matter how much we eat during the first 20 minutes of a meal, we won’t feel satisfied or full until we hit the magical satiety time. If you tend … [Read more...] about When Finishing Last is Best
One Habit at a Time
Losing weight and getting in shape can feel like a monumental undertaking. It requires changing not just one or two, but dozens of habits... Drink more water, go to the grocery store, prep food, make time to exercise, eat more whole foods, get 7 or 8 hours of sleep. It’s why so many people either give up – or don’t even bother to try. It’s why we tend to succumb to all or nothing thinking. “If I can’t eat clean AND exercise for 30 minutes a day AND get 8 hours of sleep, then why bother?!” I recently revisited one of my favorite books, The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta - and ALL THE LIGHTS went on in my brain. The author shares the following data: Adopting one new habit at a time results in an 85% chance of … [Read more...] about One Habit at a Time
Permission to Slow Down
I've been laying low the past few months on purpose. Zero blogging + taking on only a handful of new clients + reading for pleasure + binge watching Big Little Lies (so good!)+ giving myself time to rest and rejuvenate. Because sometimes, no matter how much of a control freak we are - life happens and we need to step on the brakes. Maybe a parent gets ill or your own health takes a blow or you're simply worn out from all the go go go. Or all of the above. Now slowing down is NOT what I normally do. What I normally do when life goes a little sideways is push harder + sleep less + double down. And the result is always crap. So I decided to make a different choice this time. And the result has been 1,000,000 times better. Here's my advice … [Read more...] about Permission to Slow Down
It’s Time to Put the Scale Away When…
If you have a history of yo-yo dieting, relying on the scale for motivation can easily backfire. Let me explain. If the scale number is higher than we hoped for, it can cause anxiety. And anxiety about our weight tends to send us beelining toward our “hidden” stash of Thin Mints. On the other hand, that same higher than hoped for number can trigger calorie restriction or the elimination of foods/food groups (no more ice cream, no more carbs), thereby setting the stage for an inevitable binge. Now if the number is lower than expected, it’s easy to justify a food “reward” or overeating. “Woohoo, I lost 3 pounds, it’s cheesecake for dinner tonight!” If any of these scenarios ring true, know that you’re not alone. In fact, you’re … [Read more...] about It’s Time to Put the Scale Away When…