When I lose all this extra weight, I’m going on vacation!

When I reach my goal weight, then I’ll try swing dancing.

I know I need new clothes, but I’m not buying any until I lose weight.

I’ll get back out there and start dating, but first I need to get back down to a size 10.

Do any of these ring a bell?  We had a discussion this week about putting life on hold until we reach a specific number on the scale or get back into a certain clothing size.  It made me sad that so many people were expressing this same plan of waiting to do things in life because they felt like their weight was holding them back.

Granted there may be some things that aren’t possible at the moment due to our current health/weight status, like running a marathon if you haven’t been training.  However that should not limit us from doing the things that ARE possible.  Punishing ourselves by not buying clothes that fit, refusing to treat ourselves to vacations, or avoiding social situations may actually prevent us from achieving our health and weight loss goals.

Depriving yourself of these simple pleasures could create a situation where food is our only source of pleasure or it could trigger eating out of frustration or negative body image.

Is there anything you’ve been putting on hold until you’ve lost weight?  Is it possible that you could do this now rather than waiting for life to start at your goal weight?

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If The Tennis Shoe Fits…

by Cindy on March 9, 2010

I went shopping this weekend for some new workout threads and was reminded how invigorating it can be tossing out the old and bringing in something brand spanky new.  Even exchanging my dingey socks with a fresh pair of crispy white ones can put a skip in my step and help me stay the path to a healthy lifestyle.

Not to overstate the importance of socks, but replacing old tired tees and tennies with ones that are comfortable and better suited to your workout really can make a difference.

I think it is important to ‘gear up’ for exercise the same way you do for any other event that’s important to you.  I don’t mean going out and buying the most expensive athletic wear you can find just to prove how serious you are.  Or waiting one more day to engage in your favorite activity because you don’t think you have the right clothes.  I’m talking about making a commitment to your new active lifestyle and more importantly your body, in an effort to keep you moving for life.

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It Happened This Week: Helping without Harming – A Message to Michelle Obama

March 5, 2010

We began and end the week with wise words from Ellyn Satter.  Today, we focus on her message to Michelle Obama to stop talking about childhood obesity.  Ellyn encourages instead a focus on helping parents set up a healthy feeding environment that will support their children’s natural abilities to choose what’s right for their health.  [...]

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Healthy Cooking Thursday: Terroirs of Pleasure

March 4, 2010

If you’ve visited Green Mountain at Fox Run in the past few years, you might be familiar with one of our dinner servers, Millicent Johnson.  She deftly delivers the evening meal to our guests several nights a week.  But what many folks don’t know is that Millicent owns Dairy-Aire Farm (you have to just love that [...]

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Winding Down, Without Food

March 3, 2010

Finish all tasks on daily to do list – check.  Wrap up a hectic work day – check.  Pick up around the house – check.  Deal with kids, bills, making dinner, pets, etc….  – check.  Now it’s “me time” and it’s going to be me and food.  How often do we go to food to [...]

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When ‘Working Out’ Becomes Work

March 2, 2010

I wish that getting and staying fit was as simple as a walk in the park or as inspirational as frolicking through a field of wildflowers.
The truth is, shouldn’t it be?
I return to this topic time and again because months, even years go by, when I’m really feeling great about excercise.  
Then, out of the blue  (*poof*)  the love is gone.
Usually when this [...]

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Raising Healthy Eaters: Feeding Teenagers

March 1, 2010

Today my youngest child begins his last year as a teenager.  He’s off at college and I’m not dealing with the day-to-day responsibilities of child rearing anymore.  But many of us still are, and I thought I’d celebrate Jake’s birthday by pointing readers to Ellyn Satter’s latest newsletter talking about the division of responsibility in [...]

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Learning to Love Winter: Break Out the Snowshoes!

February 26, 2010

Winter.  It’s something that happens every year.  In some places, it’s quite a bit different than the rest of the year.  We can definitely say that in these parts.  Vermont winters are lovely just like the rest of the year.  But we tend to have a lot of that white stuff around.  And it lasts [...]

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Healthy Cooking Thursday: Faux Sugar on Snow

February 25, 2010

I’m not sure who the genius was who first decided to take some delicious heated maple syrup and pour it on new fallen snow, but whoever it was, I would kiss them today if I could.  This wonderful cold weather tradition is almost enough to make a person wish for snow.  When the hot maple [...]

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I Cook Healthy Foods, I Just Eat Too Much

February 24, 2010

If I had a nickel for every time I heard this concern, I’d have a lot of nickels!  I work with so many women who understand the basics of nutrition; some even have an advanced understanding of nutrition, but all still struggle with health and weight loss.  Why is it that knowing what foods are good [...]

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