Ah, the scale. As a woman seeking to lose weight, it can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
Sadly, though, a lot of women get addicted to that number on the scale. They see it not just as measure of their weight but as a measure of their success, their value, and their worth.
When that number doesn’t say what they want, they know without a doubt they’re going to have a bad day.
Here are a few signs that you have a scale addiction:
You don’t need to measure/weight your food in order to control your calories. Calorie counting is not only troublesome but also inaccurate so there is no point in doing it anyway. However, you can take control of your caloric intake by adopting these 12 fool-proof strategies:
This is not a new movie (from 2010) but I have just watched it and I really recommend it. It is a documentary based on a guy’s quest for the cure of a rare skin condition. After being on medication for years with little results, Joe Cross decides to reboot his life through juicing. He spent 60 days cruising the USA while on a complete juice fast[1] interviewing Americans along the way.
Behavior change is one of the major components of weight management programs. It is true that exercise and diet play important roles in weight loss, however if the individual cannot build healthier lifestyle habits, the results won’t last. This is because once the person goes back to his/hers old habits chances are that the pounds are going to begin piling up again. Therefore, long-term commitment is a must.
Changing someone’s behaviors is not an easy task. First, the person must be open to change (for more on that read “Increasing the Odds of Successful Change”). Keep in mind that change is only possible if the individual is willing to change. However, once the person is on board, change is possible if habits are addressed.
As a new year starts, millions of people make resolutions that they don’t believe they can accomplish. In the US, the number one resolution for 2014 was to lose weight (University of Scranton). Unfortunately, only 8% of people are expected to be successful in achieving their goals. Why these statistics are so pessimistic? Well, the truth is that most people want something, but few are willing to work for it.
Keep in mind that just because we write down a simple statement, it doesn’t mean it will magically happen, no effort needed. Therefore, if you really want to achieve your goals this year, it is time you change your approach.
Yes, it is Thanksgiving and we are ready to deliver our little speech at dinner table. But are they just meaningless words that were put together nicely or do we really feel blessed for all those good deeds?
According to well-being researches, the regular practice of gratitude is strongly associated with happiness and life satisfaction. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,” and it seems that happiness contributes to mental health.
Have you ever wondered whether or not you should eat before working out? Many folks tend to avoid eating before exercising in the hopes of burning more fat. Even though many fitness gurus defended this idea, a study published on the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism refuted this myth. The study compared a group of volunteers in two different states: fasting and having a light breakfast before training sessions. The goal was to measure the caloric expenditure after the exercise session and the amount of fat that was being used as fuel. It was found that when the subjects ate before exercising, they burned slightly more calories 12 to 24 hours after the session than when fasting. In addition, it seemed that when they had breakfast before training, they used more fat as fuel after the exercise session.
Nowadays, watching what you eat has become a rather common habit. Many people have learned to count calories, hoping that it will solve their body-weight issues. However, is measuring every single thing you put in your mouth a healthy practice? Many experts believe it can do more harm than good. First of all, it gives you the illusion that all calories are created equal, which is not true. Your body needs important nutrients that you may be missing if you are constantly controlling food intake. Besides, eating 1,500 calories of energy-dense foods means you’ll be eating tiny portions that won’t make you feel satisfied. You’ll be hungry most of the time, and sooner or later you’ll give up. In addition, counting calories on a regular basis can lead to an obsession with food, which can easily become a full-blown eating disorder such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa.
Many dieters tend to develop a negative relationship with food. That’s because diets have created the idea that eating is a frivolous habit that should be restricted in order to obtain the perfect body. Unfortunately, most diets completely ignore the body’s needs for energy and nutrients. Instead, they create the illusion that there are “good” foods (such as cabbage and broccoli) and “bad” foods (such as doughnuts and bread), and you should only eat the good ones; otherwise, you’ll be condemned to be fat. Therefore, people try to deprive themselves of the foods they love in the name of “fitness.” However, eating only cabbage and broccoli is unrealistic and unattainable.
It is very common in the U.S. to skip breakfast. Many people say they don’t have enough time to prepare a morning meal at home (but they seem to have plenty of time to wait in line for an overpriced cup of coffee). Others will tell you they don’t have breakfast in the hopes of cutting calories and shedding a few pounds. I’m sorry to break the bad news to you, but several studies show that people who skip breakfast tend to overeat later in the day.