Think Slim, Issue #023 - Nothing Works?

May 31st, 2006

Look great, feel great

Hi

Summer seems to have finally arrived in Edinburgh - at least the threat of overnight frost seems to have gone and it's safe to put out the hanging basket by the front door!

Now everyone's thoughts in the UK (and probably the rest of the northern hemisphere) are turning to skimpy clothes and swimsuits and the horror of revealing all that flesh which has been happily hidden for months. It's great motivation for slimming but (as this month's article will explain), try and avoid falling into the crash diet trap. Lose the weight fast if you like but lose it permanently too.

Have a great month

Love

P.S. There are quite a few postings on the Think Slim blog this month. See them all at http://smallchange.typepad.com/thinkslim.

Contents

Feature article : Nothing Works?

So many of my clients tell me that they've tried every diet going and "nothing works". Some of them have lost weight before and put it all back on again including one lady who had lost over 70lbs to reach her target weight.

What is the big problem with losing weight? It seems so simple (in theory) : you eat less, you move more and hey, presto - the weight drops off. And there's not a single one of us could not lose weight if we were locked in a prison cell and given bread and water to eat. So why can't we do it for ourselves?

We can blame the vast array of food choices available. We can point the finger at hamburger restaurants and manufacturers filling their products with fat and sugar. We can lament the amount of food advertising on TV. We can moan about all the food we get offered by our families and co-workers, but it won't help us one jot.

When you need to lose weight it's just between you and your food choices, you and your activity levels. No one can make you do it. You have to stand up for yourself and be counted. It's tough, I know it is, to say "No, I'm not going to eat that", "No, I'm not going to have seconds", "No, I'm not going to buy that because if I do I'll eat it and not the kids" but that's what you have to do if you want the pounds to drop off.

Then to make it harder you have to sat "yes" too : "Yes, I'm going to walk up the stairs and not get the elevator", "Yes, I'm going to spend 15 minutes weeding the garden" "Yes, I'm going to walk to the shops instead of taking the car"

And then you have to do these things not once but over and over and over again until you lose weight. And then you have to continue beyond that so that you never go back to how things were before.

If you're prepared to do that you'll be one of the golden 5% who succeed in losing weight and keeping it off.

If you're not ready to do that, you just want to go on a temporary starvation diet and then "get back to normal" you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of dieting. Even the prison cell would be no more than a temporary drop in weight if we started to eat "normally" once we were released.

The only thing which works permanently is gradually changing what normal is - step by step putting a new set of habits and routines in place until they feel a natural part of your lifestyle.

Can you see the sense in this? Will you start to change your habits today? Or will you choose the latest crash diet and still be saying that "nothing works" in another 6 months?

Whatever you decide, whether you go for a crash diet or not, start changing your habits anyway - it's the only way to stay slim in the long run.

Copyright 2006,  Janice Elizabeth Small

Make Being Slim a Habit

If you want to discover the 24 step by step changes I use with my clients who want to permanently lose weight take a look at the Weight Loss handbook. This is an 8-week weight loss coaching programme which helps you start thinking and acting like the slim person you are inside. You'll learn how to take on those slim habits and slot them easily into your life.

This month's tip : Pick an Activity Project

If you can't stand the thought of exercise, pick an activity "project" instead. This can be anything which interests you and which involves you getting more active. For example you could

• Create a beautiful garden
• Remodel your house
• Have a huge clutter clearing session
• Learn to dance, skate or swim
• Become a football coach

All these activities have a goal in mind rather than just trying to lose weight or get fit but you will lose weight and get fitter in the process while you enjoy achieving what you set out to do. What would it take to inspire you to move more?

Recommendation : Simply Blood Pressure

If you want to lose weight as a means to help control your blood pressure you may be interested in this site. There's a free 30 part course to help you lower your blood pressure healthily too. You can see it at http://www.simplybloodpressure.com

Wishing you a fantastic month, looking and feeling great

Janice Elizabeth Small

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. If you have any comments or suggestions for future issues, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this ezine.

P.P.S.Know anyone else who might enjoy it? Please pass it on. If you received this from a friend you can sign up for your own copy at....

www.weight-loss-motivation-program.com

copyright © 2006, J. Small. All Rights reserved.

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