Journey to Fitness

The Cookie Monster post seems to have struck a cord with many of you. I have received several emails from folks who feel defeated and frustrated at not being able to say "Not to Cookie." I have also received a few emails from folks who say they start out strong, lose the weight, but then find that their determination eventually peters out while the pounds creep back on.

Uh-huh, it's not just you.

Look at the top of the screen, boys and girls: CHANGE IS A PROCESS. I should add that old habits are hard to break.

If you feel like your experience with fitness is like an endless journey around a revolving door (thanks to my coachee for the wonderful metaphor), you are not alone. Learning how to live a healthier life is a process with inevitable ups and downs.

The basic principles of weight-loss and fitness are simple, but humans are not.

I would like to recommend a book that I ran across yesterday that is meant to help people SLOWLY make changes in their diets. It is Bob Greene's book, "The Best Life Diet." He does not advocate any special-diet. Rather, he helps you make changes in your diet in phases.

I have just started reading it, but I hope to share some of its principles and tips with you along the way. Here is an excerpt from the Editorial Review:

"What sets Bob apart from all the other experts who claim to have plans that work is that he admits that weight loss is difficult: seventeen years of watching people struggle to lose weight on a seemingly endless string of trendy crash diets, only to backslide and regain the pounds they've shed, have taught him that dropping pounds is not simply a numbers game. By acknowledging that it is not simple laziness but a complicated web of social rituals, cultural expectations, and habits that drives people to gain weight, Greene is able to attack the problem of weight loss realistically and offer not a short-lived, quick-fix formula, but a long-term program that accounts for the challenges and constraints of the real world.

Divided into three phases, The Best Life Diet gives you the tools you need to change your life. In each phase, you'll be asked to reexamine the decisions you make on a daily basis and gradually alter your habits to achieve lasting results. The book also includes easy-to-follow meal plans that make it simple to meet your daily energy and nutrient requirements, whether you are on the run and breakfast means a quick smoothie or you have time to shop for fresh produce and make something special."

If you find yourself really struggling with saying "Not to Cookie," this book seems like a good place to start.

Keep Bringing it, Kids! You will eventually get to where you want to be.

Barbie