The Carbohydrate Vendetta

Nine out of ten clients that walk through my office door have a grudge against the forbidden food group -  Carbohydrates. 

Some common quotes:

• "Carbs are bad for you." 

• "I absolutely cannot eat carbs, they just don't agree with my body."

•  "Carbs are bad for me because they just are, everyone says they are...."

•  "Whatever you do, do not include carbs in my meal plan. It is impossible for me to lose weight when I eat carbs."

• "Carbs make me fat"

 When they leave my office the most famous quote is:  

"Thank you! You gave me the right to eat carbs! It's been so long since I've merely touched anything related to carbohydrates." 

Carbs are both good and bad for you and it's easy to separate the good from the bad. There are many health benefits from "good" or complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits which are chock full of fiber.  Fiber slows down the absorption of nutrients which are eaten at the same meal including carbohydrates. This can help to lower blood cholesterol, prevent diabetes and keep us fuller longer. Fiber is therefore actually a dieter's best friend so go ahead and get your fill of good carbohydrates!

Having said that, we definitely want to minimize our intake of "bad," simple, or refined carbohydrates which are high in sugar and low in fiber, Examples of these carbs include, white bread, white rice and white pasta, added sugars, artificial syrups, soft drinks, cakes, cookies etc.

   

 

 

 

Red Light Green Light Eat Right program to be featured in this the upcoming season of "The Biggest Loser"

Yup guys, you heard right! The program which has helped so many of you transform your lives and inspire so many people around you will be featured in the upcoming season of "The Biggest Loser."

The Red Light Green Light Eat Right plan is a revolutionary program  developed by Dr. Joanna Dolgoff which is a simple and FUN (yes, fun!!) program that empowers children, teens, and adults to make healthy choices on their own. It's so easy, even my youngest clients can understand it!

This season's "Biggest Loser" will feature three children following the Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right plan. Dr. Dolgoff will work closely with these kids and viewers will have the opportunity to follow their progress. Be sure to tune in and to compare the contestants experiences with your own!

The "Biggest Loser"  in my practice is.....a 17 year old who has lost a grand total of 67 pounds---Wow, keep up the amazing work! 

I love when my Red Light Green Light clients come in because the most amazing component of their lifestyle transformations is that they are HAPPY! They find this to be a sustainable program which they can follow even through holidays and parties---it's really not a problem at all to stay on track!

 

Hurricane Sandy made me fat!

The #1 complaint from my hurricane Sandy battered clients this week has been:  "Hurricane Sandy made me fat."

According to the New York Times, the most damaging aftereffect of the super-storm is tight jeans. They are terming this tragic condition the "Sandy Five" (similar to the "freshman  15," an expression used to refer to the weight gain often associated with the first year of college). Experts say this is a very common side effect of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and that it is not uncommon for people to gain weight after a storm.

My words of wisdom to my clients: Often the strongest cravings for foods occur when people are emotionally wrecked. We went through an historic epic catastrophe and we are only human.  If we can find comfort in food then let it be!  Yes, emotional eating can sabotage our hard earned weight-loss efforts, but the good news is we can start fresh and take steps to get right back on track with our weight loss goals.

How you dealt with this challenge: You came to your appointment. You did not use the storm as an excuse to skip your regularly scheduled visit. That is to be commended! And now you need to forgive yourself and start fresh. Let's focus on making positive changes and on moving forward.