In an unexpected turn, I had to have emergency surgery to remove my lap-band last week. Listen in as I tell what happened and how I expect this to impact my healthy living journey for the rest of my life.
Oct 14 2015
From pages 119 – 122 of Eat Like It Matters: If dieting left me feeling like I was holding my breath underwater, it’s no wonder that I found it impossible to do it for very long. But this is what relying on willpower has always felt like to me: it takes so much mental energy […]
I hadn’t been feeling well for days. Couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was off. I had some heartburn and lethargy, but I’m a pretty busy girl, so I mentally pushed it aside and pressed on. Yeah … turns out, sometimes the universe bashes you over the head to get your attention. Wednesday […]
Where do you come down on the whole “lean in to change” approach? Are baby steps better than going “cold turkey”? Or should we rip off the band-aid and make all of the healthy lifestyle changes we need to make in one fell swoop? No surprise, I have an opinion. (Ahem.)
I walked into the Starbucks, hoodie up, eyes cast down. I glanced around quickly. Nope, nobody I knew in the place. Whew! I’d seen the sign on the door: Was I gonna do it? Was I gonna order a #PSL (as the cool kids refer to the pumpkin spice latte)? Sure, it was a […]
In the decades that I was obese, food became a quick fix in my stressful life that helped me cope with chronic dissatisfaction and unhappiness. It became an unhealthy substitute for true pleasure and contentment. Now I regularly practice self-care and have found this to be the best antidote to slipping back into my old ways. Listen […]
Sep 29 2015
From pages 105 – 107 of Eat Like It Matters: Finally!” the readers exclaim in unison. “She’s gonna get to the point about what to eat, how to eat, and how to actually lose weight!” Oh, don’t get your panties in a bunch. Of course I was gonna get to it, but you can’t just […]
Sep 28 2015
As a recovering perfectionist, I try to practice self-compassion as I stumble along the path of my life. Learning to do so has had repercussions beyond my imagining. I was raised to believe that being a perfectionist meant you had high standards, both for yourself and for others. When other people (or I) didn’t meet […]
Sep 25 2015
AM Northwest appearance September 25, 2015
From pages 92 – 95 of Eat Like It Matters … When I decided I was ready to change my life I knew I needed support from the person I had the closest relationship with: my husband. My decision to have lap-band surgery worried him initially; the surgical risks are not insignificant, and the cost […]
Sep 23 2015
We make a joke out of it: over-the-top indulgent food. The more decadent it is, the better. The more ooey-gooey cheese or mountains of whipped cream or greasy patties stacked to the sky … the better. Is it because we’re obsessed with “getting our money’s worth” or are we chasing gratification in all the wrong […]
I’ve made lots of new friends since embarking on my weight loss journey. Many of these folks are people whose paths crossed mine at an exercise class or through mutual friends, but some I met waiting in line at the grocery store or even through social media. Seriously, I’ve become one of those silly saps […]
When I look at this book in its entirety, it strikes me how every single strategy I’ve learned—really, every single point I make— is about putting yourself first. When you put yourself first you have high standards for yourself and your life. You expect to be happy and to have satisfying relationships with your family […]
Sep 10 2015
I’ll admit it: I’m late to the kale party. The whole foodie world’s been hip to kale craze for several years now, but up until recently the enthusiasm for the much-touted “queen of greens” eluded me. It’s not that I didn’t believe those who extolled her virtues – kale’s anti-inflammatory properties, powerful antioxidants and impressive […]
From pages 48 – 49 … While I disengaged from my physical body and pretended not to notice the damage I did to myself over and over again with food, the most destructive manifestation of my denial was the detachment I felt from my conflicted misery in my role as wife and mom. It’s extremely […]
Sep 2 2015
“Eat Clean” is the latest buzzword in the healthy eating world, but what does it really mean? Here’s a quick rundown of the top ten principles of clean eating and how I incorporate them into my life. How do you eat clean?
If there is one thing I’ve learned during my weight-loss journey it’s that I’m not terribly exceptional. Oh, don’t get me wrong. The fact that I lost over one hundred pounds and have kept it off for more than eight years is remarkable. And I’m not claiming modesty here. I work very hard, and every […]
Listen in as I’m joined in the studio by some folks from my local YMCA! We talked about establishing new habits, finding a balanced approach to fitness and weight loss, and the many Y programs that can help us achieve our goals. My Y is my happy place, and the skilled staff and caring volunteers are a […]
There’s more than enough evidence to show that drinking sugary soda is bad for us. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, those who consume 1-2 cans of sugary soda per day are 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. And finally, it seems, the message is getting through. Earlier this year the […]
Do you Instagram? I do. Mostly I follow fitness and healthy eating accounts so that I can see what others in my field are posting. And I know I’m gonna sound like a middle-aged grump when I say this, but most of it is absolute garbage. Honestly, if I see one more scantily-clad 19-year-old young […]
Aug 20 2015
A friend’s recent trip to Vegas led to a Facebook post that included a photo of the “Heart Attack Grill,” famed for its single, double, triple and quadruple bypass burgers. There’s even an Octuple Bypass Burger (eight patties) that’s just shy of 20,000 calories – not including the Flatliner Fries – which holds the Guinness […]
I love, love, love it when a reader’s question gets me thinking about something in a new way. Really, there’s nothing better than a little brainstorming sesh with somebody to get the creative problem-solving juices flowing! So here’s the question that a reader posed to me recently about breaking through her “exercise plateau,” followed by […]
This isn’t some pollyanna, feel-good talk about how to find success after having failed at something. In this podcast I delve into what it means to feel like a personal failure. After years of feeling like I was nothing but a disappointment, and after a devastating rock bottom experience, I heard a small but […]
Aug 11 2015
Chapter One MAYBE YOU CAN’T BREAK THROUGH UNTIL YOU ADMIT YOU’RE BROKEN I once weighed 265 pounds and had a body mass index of 43. To clarify, the National Institutes of Health labels as “overweight” those people with a body mass index (BMI) of between 25 and 29.9. Those who have a BMI of between […]
Obesity has more than quadrupled in adolescents in the last 30 years. As a society we do a lot of hand-wringing about childhood obesity. How can we make a dent in this crisis? Listen in to hear what I’ve learned both as a former fat kid and as the parent of a child who worked […]
The ubiquitous beer garden at the end of a 5K race can be a lot of fun, not to mention an incentive to get to the finish line. Just as common is the “carbo-loading” dinner the night before the big race so that runners can get their fill and store up carbohydrates, giving them plenty […]
Trying to live a healthy lifestyle is a challenge, even under the best of circumstances. If you’re actively trying to lose weight, it’s easy to get frustrated with the glacially slow pace of progress. That frustration can give way to desperation, and we all know that desperation can lead us to fad diets, gimmicks and […]
The badass doesn’t fall far from the tree in my family, that’s for sure! Listen in as my 75 year-old mom joins me in the studio to talk about healthy living, her latest 12K race, and how she lost 70+ pounds a few years ago after a lifetime of yo-yo dieting. Go mom!
Jul 28 2015
We hear the term “clean eating” everywhere these days, but what does it mean, exactly? It’s one of those weight loss catch phrases that grabs us every few years and comes to define a whole dieting era. But what does it mean? Are its principles nutritionally sound, or is it just another gimmick? And if it’s […]
There are five distinct categories of weight loss programs: pre-packaged food diets, counting programs, restrictive diets, external influencers (pills etc.), and weight loss surgery. Is there one “perfect” diet? Let’s talk about how each category works and figure out if there’s a weight loss program that will be perfect for you!
Come with me as I create a mental picture: You’re walking along, minding your own business in your busy life. You’re reasonably happy – you’ve got work, your friends and family, a special somebody. Or maybe you’re a child, playing peacefully. Things are pretty good. Unexpectedly, you have a dramatic incident – maybe your husband […]
Jul 20 2015
Picture someone kicking, screaming, digging their heels in, throwing a tantrum. Not a pretty picture. Most of us grown-ups don’t do this literally, but we may do it mentally. Especially when it comes to facing the reality of why we’re not losing weight. When a friend asks how our diet is going we throw up […]
Jul 15 2015
Having the confidence to politely and compassionately say “no” is one of the hardest things I’ve learned during my weight loss journey … and it’s the #1 reason I’ve kept my weight off for more than 8 years. It’s hard to do – especially when you’re a perennial people-pleaser (guilty as charged) – but the […]
The French version of the 4th of July is Bastille Day. On July 14, 1789, outraged Parisian’s stormed the Bastille – the Paris prison where high-profile prisoners were held – in search of ammunition. Meanwhile, King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette took refuge in Versailles, soon after to lose their heads. The capturing […]
Jul 9 2015
We’ve got it all wrong when it comes to motivation. Most of us assume that the “highly motivated” are somehow different from the rest of us. They always want to eat right and go to the gym. If only we could capture some of their mojo we would be able to lose weight. But as […]
Eight years ago I had what I describe now as a “rock bottom” experience. Impulsively, in a wave of exasperation with my work, my home life and my weight (I was more than 100 lbs. overweight at the time), I quit my job. As I climbed out of that dark place, I realized that my […]
The scene: my bathroom, this morning. My husband (29 years later this summer) and I are both getting ready for our day. It’s the Monday morning after a holiday weekend filled with fun, celebrating (a little overindulging) with family and friends, houseguests, and did I mention overindulging? Needless to say we’d had a great weekend, […]
Jul 3 2015
No matter where you’re headed this weekend – heck, even if you’re staying home – there will be holiday food involved in your festivities. But it’s time to declare our independence from the usual, unhealthy summer celebratory foods. And let’s be honest, George Washington probably wasn’t eating a foot-long hot dog and potato salad when […]
There are a lucky few who seem to breeze through hormonal changes without consequence. I am not one of them. You’re probably not either. A little over a year ago I started having hot flashes. There, I said it. I suppose one reason many of us don’t talk about these things is because it’s an […]
This is a question someone posed to me recently on Facebook, and I think it’s worth answering to a bigger audience. I have been asked this – in many variations – before: “How did Rob feel about your obesity?” or “Was he still attracted to you when you were overweight?” Admittedly, these are very personal questions, […]
Jun 17 2015
I actually yelled at my dog Stella for pooping on our walk this morning. Like, what was she supposed to do? When a doggy’s gotta go, a doggy’s gotta go. But I was in no mood to dig out a bag, scoop up her warm, squishy poo and carry it around until I could find […]
Jun 11 2015
Of the three “100 days of awesome!” food components, shaking off sugar may be the hardest. Sugar is everywhere! And – darn it! – it tastes so good! But as I mentioned in the “100 days of shaking off sugar” video blog last week, sugar could very well be the reason you’re not losing weight. […]
Jun 10 2015
We’re into our second week of “100 days of awesome!” and I’ve heard from lots of you that you’re enjoying the program. The planks, squats and push-ups are tough but manageable, especially when you modify. The 100 days of planks schedule and the 100 days of push-ups schedule are below if you need them again. […]
Jun 7 2015
Oh my, it’s time for “100 days of awesome!” BONUS ROUND!!!! Several people have asked me, “Marilyn, how come there’s no cardio in the ‘100 days of awesome”? It wasn’t really an oversight; I just feel like the whole-body strength training moves are so important in building muscle strength. But the more I thought about […]
Jun 6 2015
Have you been following the “100 days of awesome!” all week? The final part of “100 days of awesome” is a commitment to spending those 100 days eating more greens. And stop right there for a sec, because I know what you’re thinking: “Ugh, not another salad! I get so sick of rabbit food. It makes […]
Jun 5 2015
100 days of healthy fats means trans fats and saturated fats are the first to go. I’m betting you already guessed that though, didn’t you?!? Trans fats – also called partially-hydrogenated fats – are the most dangerous form of fat. You’ll find these in nearly every kind of processed food on grocery store shelves, which […]
The busy summer travel season is here and many of us will be taking planes, trains and automobiles in our quest to find the perfect spot for a little “r and r.” However, travel can throw a wrench into healthy habits as we’re left to the mercy of airplane food and gas station snacks. What’s […]
Jun 4 2015
Some research tells us that sugar is more addictive than cocaine. We know that sugar is in nearly 80% of foods on grocery store shelves. Sugar proves the point that not all calories are created equal. And sugar may very well be the reason you can’t lose weight. Sugar has got to go. The first three […]
My husband (aka resident comedian) jokes that I’m at my favorite hair salon so often I should have my own private entrance. Haha, funny man! It’s true that I get my hair colored frequently enough that I can easily keep up with the very active love life of my 20-something colorist. While all of this […]
Swimsuit shopping is its own kind of Hell. Typically I don’t try on clothes in stores. I buy something I want (if it’s something I really want or need immediately I’ll buy it in two sizes), try it on at home, and return it if it doesn’t work. I’m not sure if this habit is […]
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