Getting vs. Being Thin

On Wednesday we talked about how you perceive yourself -- that is, whether you see yourself as someone who needs to lose weight, or someone who maintains a healthy weight. Today I'd like to look at this same topic from a different angle, and offer some suggestions for change.

Many -- maybe most -- people don't give much thought to their weight until they need to lose weight. From a weight management perspective, this means most people live their lives thinking about getting thin, instead of being thin. That's too bad, because the truth is that we're in relationship with our bodies from the time we're born until the day we die.

There are many parallels between weight and money mangement, and I think this is another one. Many (again, maybe most) people who suddenly come into money usually end up back where they started financially -- or even worse off. It's ironic to me that this is usually the case with weight management, too.

Again, perhaps that's because the focus is on getting, rather than being. If your only focus is winning the lottery, and you never think about how you'll manage the challenges of wealth (let alone sudden wealth), if you never consider how you'll maintain your wealth, chances are you'll end up losing that wealth in the long run.

Likewise, if your only focus is to lose weight, you're probably not thinking about how you'll maintain your weight, cope with the positive and negative reactions you'll get from others, and so on. And odds are, you'll end up not just regaining the weight, but gaining an extra five or ten (or more) pounds. In essence, you end up worse off than you were before you won the weight loss lottery, so to speak.

So, what can you do instead? Here are a few thoughts:

1) Accept thyself. Try being happy with your body, even if it's just one aspect of your body. After all, it's still getting you around Earth in some way.

2) Make meaningful changes. Instead of jumping on the latest weight loss bandwagon, ask yourself what you can honestly change that will positively affect your weight.

3) Be patient. Lasting weight management is about entering into a long-term, honest relationship with your body. That goes entirely counter to the typical diet mentality of "No pain, no gain," but it's still the best way to real weight management.

4) Change your perspective. Stop thinking of you and your body as enemies at odds with one another. Consider thinking of your body as an ally, a friend, even a lover. How can you show your body cameraderie and caring?

5) Think things through. Changing your behaviors is best done by changing your thoughts. Start paying attention to your self-talk, and change up the things you say to yourself about your body if you need to. Try changing "I want or need to lose weight," to "I want or need to be thin," and see how your behaviors change.

We'll tackle this topic further next week, and consider how parenting styles (both your own and those of the people who raised you) affect weight management. Until then, I'd love to hear what you're thinking right now about getting vs. being thin. Leave me a comment and let me know!

Recipe of the Week: Slow Cooker Indian Chicken

I hope you haven't put away your slow cooker, as I'll be posting more slow cooker recipes throughout the month of January. This particular recipe requires a few exotic ingredients. If you don't mind slogging through the snow, take a trip to your local ethnic market to find dried ginger root and green cardamom pods. You can use a mortar and pestle, or the back of a tablespoon, to crush the coriander seeds.

Slow Cooker Indian Chicken

Ingredients:

1 (10 3/4-ounce) can lowered-sodium, reduced fat cream of chicken soup
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic
1 tablespoon bottled minced ginger (or 1 teaspoon freshly ground ginger root)
1" cinnamon stick
3 whole cloves
3 green cardamom pods
1 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspooon ground turmeric
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Directions:

Combine soup, tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, coriander, red pepper flakes, and turmeric in slow cooker. Add chicken. Cook on HIGH for 4 - 6 hours, or on LOW for 6 - 8 hours. Remove cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom pods. Shred chicken with two forks. Serve with potatoes or rice.

Have You Resolved to Lose Weight? Don't Do It!

Are you working on your New Year's resolutions? One of the most common resolutions is, of course, to lose weight. We all know that most of us make and break this resolution every year. Sometimes clients tell me they make and break this resolution several times every year!

Why is this resolution so hard to keep? True, weight management isn't easy. But I suspect it has something to do with the wording.

If you've taken my online weight loss class, you know that successful long-term exercise is easier if you think of yourself as a person who exercises. How do you think of yourself with regard to your weight? Are you a person who weighs more than they should? Are you a person who loses weight? Or are you a person who maintains a healthy weight?

There's a significant difference between these three perspectives. If you see yourself as someone who loses weight, you're perpetuating the cycle of lose weight-gain weight-lose weight before you even get started! If you see yourself as someone who maintains a healthy weight, your weight may fluctuate, but you'll be planning ahead to follow through on the behaviors that help you lose weight -- and keep it off.

So, let me ask the questions again. How do you think of yourself with regard to your weight? Are you a person who weighs more than they should? Are you a person who loses weight? Or are you a person who maintains a healthy weight? Post your perspective and let us know what you think!

What's New? Tuesday

That's right, it's Tuesday -- the day of the week when I had the mic over to you. Got a weight management or cooking question or concern? Ask away! Have you enjoyed a success? Brag a little! Want some support or encouragement? That's what we're here for, so post and let us know!

Weekly Goals for January 4th -- January 10th

I haven't been consistent about logging in here during my blogging break, but I've done well with my goals nonetheless. Yes!! I don't have anything new with my goals *this* week...I've got some new stuff on the radar in upcoming weeks, though. For now:

1) Continue with planner/praise

2) Continue with 2 - 3 liters of water daily

3) Up breathing exercises to 5 times daily

4) Continue with 1/2 hour of dance and 1/2 hour of cardio daily (or 1 hour cardio no more than 5 times a week, and at least 15 minutes of dance daily)

5) Post daily on progress

How's it going for you? Do you have goals for the week? If you'd like a little more structure and accountability, I encourage you to post your goals and follow up daily as well. Jump in -- the water's fine :)!