This is another expression to help keep you on track.
Years ago when the boys were sitting down to breakfast, I let them take as much sugar as their spoons would hold and told them to "put some on then put some back". They were happy because they were in control; they were the ones in charge of scooping and sprinkling it over their cereal, and I was happy because 99% of it was going back into the canister. (It's all optics when it comes to children.)
But this expression has served me well over the years and it can apply to a lot more than the sugar you use. When I'm putting jam on my toast, I'll put some on then scrape some of it off and put it back in the jar. The days of lathering it 1/4 inch thick edge to edge are over for me. And I do this with just about everything I eat. I'm not denying myself anything but I'm not over doing it either.
So whether you're having ice cream, a wedge of cake or a bowl of beef stew, try serving yourself what you would normally eat then put some of it back. It won't kill you and you won't starve. But over time, your new habit of 'put some on, put some back' should have a big impact on your waist line and your grocery bill.
Saturday 28 January 2012
Thursday 26 January 2012
Addicted to the Biggest Loser
At the risk of losing all credibility, I'll admit I love watching the Biggest Loser. Every week I cry at least once during the show. I can relate to the amount of effort needed to complete those killer workouts and even some of the emotional trauma the contestants share resonates with me.
But one thing about Biggest Loser that I find particularly interesting is the anxiety at the weigh-in. It reminds me of a course I took in university about Indonesian cultures, and one particular culture had a number of rituals it would perform AFTER the harvest in the belief that the corn would multiply while in storage.
Sure, for some people a free ride through life seems to be their burden but for the rest of us, the majority of us, we get out of life what we put into it. Working hard toward a particular goal usually brings you closer to that goal. And if losing weight or getting in shape or turning toward healthy living is your goal, you have to put some work into it to get there. It takes effort. It takes changing some of your habits. It takes adding some things (exercise) and removing others (3 hrs of tv a week).
If you do the work, have faith that the results will follow. Those contestants are anxious at the weigh-in because they haven't done the work. They are trying to increase their harvest without working the field.
But one thing about Biggest Loser that I find particularly interesting is the anxiety at the weigh-in. It reminds me of a course I took in university about Indonesian cultures, and one particular culture had a number of rituals it would perform AFTER the harvest in the belief that the corn would multiply while in storage.
Sure, for some people a free ride through life seems to be their burden but for the rest of us, the majority of us, we get out of life what we put into it. Working hard toward a particular goal usually brings you closer to that goal. And if losing weight or getting in shape or turning toward healthy living is your goal, you have to put some work into it to get there. It takes effort. It takes changing some of your habits. It takes adding some things (exercise) and removing others (3 hrs of tv a week).
If you do the work, have faith that the results will follow. Those contestants are anxious at the weigh-in because they haven't done the work. They are trying to increase their harvest without working the field.
Stop favouring Left
If you are right-handed, do you favour your left side? Do you always start climbing the stairs with your right foot, carry the grocery bag in your right hand, open the door with your right arm, reach your right hand ACROSS your body to pick something up so left doesn't have to?
This type of favourtism makes the right side of your body much stronger than your left and all sorts of muscle imbalances ensue, from the tilt of your shoulders to the way you walk. And swimming straight in the pool is impossible; the pull from that skinny left arm just can't keep up with the right. Muscle imbalances are not a good thing and your body sends you all sorts of aches and pains to let you know it's unhappy.
A big part of maintaining a healthy body is to have a good look at your eating pattern to see if you're favouring one type of food over another. Is your Right always reaching for processed foods, packaged meals, desserts, or snack foods? What have you relegated Left and decided to pass over? Do you never/seldom reach for grains, vegetables, milk?
If you have an eating 'imbalance', I'd hazard a guess that your body is letting you know. Maybe you feel exhausted most of the time, not refreshed after sleeping, short-tempered with the kids or have trouble concentrating.
We are effected mentally and physically by what we eat because everything in our bodies is integrated. Favouring your left side over your right has consequences for your whole body. And favouring unhealthy foods over healthy foods also has consequences for your whole body. So today, try to balance things out if you can. Your body will thank you.
This type of favourtism makes the right side of your body much stronger than your left and all sorts of muscle imbalances ensue, from the tilt of your shoulders to the way you walk. And swimming straight in the pool is impossible; the pull from that skinny left arm just can't keep up with the right. Muscle imbalances are not a good thing and your body sends you all sorts of aches and pains to let you know it's unhappy.
A big part of maintaining a healthy body is to have a good look at your eating pattern to see if you're favouring one type of food over another. Is your Right always reaching for processed foods, packaged meals, desserts, or snack foods? What have you relegated Left and decided to pass over? Do you never/seldom reach for grains, vegetables, milk?
If you have an eating 'imbalance', I'd hazard a guess that your body is letting you know. Maybe you feel exhausted most of the time, not refreshed after sleeping, short-tempered with the kids or have trouble concentrating.
We are effected mentally and physically by what we eat because everything in our bodies is integrated. Favouring your left side over your right has consequences for your whole body. And favouring unhealthy foods over healthy foods also has consequences for your whole body. So today, try to balance things out if you can. Your body will thank you.
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