"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” ~ Ghandi

Most people have a sense of what it means to eat well and define what is healthy for them. Eat less, move more - Less fast food, more veggies...this is the main message we have heard. Yet since most Americans are overweight or obese, knowing isn't everything.

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Most commonly, people approach health with diet. If you're on a diet, it looks like a sign that we are taking care of ourselves. The most important nutrition news I can share is discouraging- Diets don't work.

Research is showing that most people regain what they lose AND 2/3 of people gain EVEN MORE than that back. For example, a 2012 study showed that very low calorie diets cause lasting hormonal changes that make weight maintenance even harder.

I have heard the testimony countless times of a client following a diet regimen. But the pitfalls of these arbitrary restrictive eating practices proved true as people would follow them, lose a few pounds, and usually within months, "fall off the wagon" and gain it all right back. I am not here to make anyone wrong for trying to give themselves some much deserved self-care and attention to their body's health and longevity. For that reason, I don't prescribe the restrictive diet or unsustainable plan- because again, it doesn't work.

What I will emphasize here is that you are not the problem. You didn't mismanage your eating and strict health regimen. Your intentions to take good care of yourself are genuine and nothing to feel ashamed over. The blame falls on the diet- 100%,

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Ideally, what we work on are steps you’ll still be taking a year from now, 5 years from now, even decades from now. Long term health is making small significant changes- this is lifestyle change. Lifestyle change is not an exhaustive process or drastic as the latest diet. It is subtle, enjoyable, and proven to be a solution to lifelong health and disease prevention.

My emphasis is on HEALTH.

Weight can be part of this; so is getting enough plant fiber, finding balance around food, omega 3s, getting enough sleep, getting regular activity, managing stress and much more.

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I use a coaching and goal setting approach, which is based around identifying the strengths and weaknesses and then developing specific and measurable goals for getting where you need and want to go. Often it’s identifying healthier foods that you like to add in, brainstorming ways of getting more movement, looking at ways to manage portions, eating more mindfully, and so on. I also often provide sample recipes for meals and ideas for snacks. For many, it can be looking at labels, observing portions, mindfulness techniques, stress management tips, etc. as well as encouragement, structure and support.

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My job is to help make these changes work for YOU: in your life, based on your priorities, with your time constraints, with your food preferences, your medical needs and monetary constraints. I hope to help you bring attention and intention to all aspects of your life, just like food naturally does :)

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Here's to your Health & Happiness!

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For more reading on this subject, here are a few research articles:

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Parent Conversations About Healthful Eating and Weight: Associations With Adolescent Disordered Eating Behaviors JAMA Pediatr. 2013;():1-7. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.78

Mann, T. Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer. Am. Psychologist, 2007; 62(3): 220-233.

Sumithran et AL. Long-term persistence of hormonal adaptations to weight loss. N Engl J Med 2011 Oct 27 (full text)

Neumark-Sztainer D. et al. Obesity, disordered eating,and eating disorders in a longitudinal study of adolescents: how do dieters fare five years later? J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106(4):559-568.

Katan, Martijn B. Weight-Loss Diets for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity NEJM 2009 360:923-925.(full text)

Field AE et al. Relation Between Dieting and Weight Change Among Preadolescents and Adolescents. Pediatrics, 2003 112:900-906. (full text)