Challenge Yourself In 2007

Discovery Health’s National Body Challenge is launching this week.  It’s the perfect opportunity to commit to a new, healthy lifestyle for the upcoming year.

The National Body Challenge is an 8-week program.  It’s designed to help guide participants through a fitness, diet and weight loss plan with free tools, such as:

•    A free 8-week membership to Bally® Total Fitness
•    Meal plans and weight trackers
•    Information and guidance from health experts
•    Healthy, low-calorie recipes

Registration for the Challenge officially begins on December 29, 2006.  The Challenge officially begins on January 13, 2007 and ends March 10, 2007.  (So you’ll be fit and slim by bathing suit season!)

The Discovery Health National Body Challenge television show will air on January 14 and 15.  Watch to get inspired as you see different challengers overcome obstacles as they pursue their weight loss goals.

It’s free to register and participate in Discovery Health’s National Body Challenge, and it could change your life!  Find more information here.

This Challenge can fit in with your New Year’s weight loss and health goals, or it can be a chance to renew or restart your healthy lifestyle.  Whether you’re just getting started or you’re an experienced fitness buff, challenging yourself with a fresh 8-week plan can help keep your program on track!

Challenge Yourself In 2007

Discovery Health’s National Body Challenge is launching this week.  It’s the perfect opportunity to commit to a new, healthy lifestyle for the upcoming year.

The National Body Challenge is an 8-week program.  It’s designed to help guide participants through a fitness, diet and weight loss plan with free tools, such as:

•    A free 8-week membership to Bally® Total Fitness
•    Meal plans and weight trackers
•    Information and guidance from health experts
•    Healthy, low-calorie recipes

Registration for the Challenge officially begins on December 29, 2006.  The Challenge officially begins on January 13, 2007 and ends March 10, 2007.  (So you’ll be fit and slim by bathing suit season!)

The Discovery Health National Body Challenge television show will air on January 14 and 15.  Watch to get inspired as you see different challengers overcome obstacles as they pursue their weight loss goals.

It’s free to register and participate in Discovery Health’s National Body Challenge, and it could change your life!  Find more information here.

This Challenge can fit in with your New Year’s weight loss and health goals, or it can be a chance to renew or restart your healthy lifestyle.  Whether you’re just getting started or you’re an experienced fitness buff, challenging yourself with a fresh 8-week plan can help keep your program on track!

New Diet & Weight Loss Reality Show

In 2004, USA Today started an annual "weight loss challenge."  Readers were encouraged to follow the stories of selected participants through a weight loss journey (updated weekly), as well as apply the same healthy living principles to their own lives.

This year, USA Today has partnered with WE TV to bring us the challenge via the television (an item that usually encourages us to just sit on the sofa and eat corn chips).  Perhaps some of us will find motivation and inspiration in this series.  Others, however, may become discouraged.

A sneak peak of the first episode (June 12, 10PM ET on WE) reminds me a lot of the popular reality show "The Biggest Loser."  The focus seems to be on deprivation–eliminating favorite foods and fun snacks, and eating only low-calorie treats.  In fact, in the preview, one woman has to justify eating a pickle slice!

Long term weight loss rarely comes from super-strict diets that eliminate all pleasurable foods.  Willpower and self-discipline will only last for so long.  For true weight loss success, we need to relearn the truth behind food–that it fuels our bodies, not our emotions.  We need to learn how to recognize physical hunger and separate it from emotional hunger.  And we need to learn how to eat the foods we enjoy while still moderating portions.

If someone told me that I’d have to give up chocolate, cookies, wine, French Fries and pasta to be thin, I’d choose to carry the spare tire around my middle.  Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way.  By exercising portion control and making smart food choices most of the time, we can still enjoy all of our favorite foods and while living a healthy life.

New Diet & Weight Loss Reality Show

In 2004, USA Today started an annual "weight loss challenge."  Readers were encouraged to follow the stories of selected participants through a weight loss journey (updated weekly), as well as apply the same healthy living principles to their own lives.

This year, USA Today has partnered with WE TV to bring us the challenge via the television (an item that usually encourages us to just sit on the sofa and eat corn chips).  Perhaps some of us will find motivation and inspiration in this series.  Others, however, may become discouraged.

A sneak peak of the first episode (June 12, 10PM ET on WE) reminds me a lot of the popular reality show "The Biggest Loser."  The focus seems to be on deprivation–eliminating favorite foods and fun snacks, and eating only low-calorie treats.  In fact, in the preview, one woman has to justify eating a pickle slice!

Long term weight loss rarely comes from super-strict diets that eliminate all pleasurable foods.  Willpower and self-discipline will only last for so long.  For true weight loss success, we need to relearn the truth behind food–that it fuels our bodies, not our emotions.  We need to learn how to recognize physical hunger and separate it from emotional hunger.  And we need to learn how to eat the foods we enjoy while still moderating portions.

If someone told me that I’d have to give up chocolate, cookies, wine, French Fries and pasta to be thin, I’d choose to carry the spare tire around my middle.  Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way.  By exercising portion control and making smart food choices most of the time, we can still enjoy all of our favorite foods and while living a healthy life.

New Diet & Weight Loss Reality Show

In 2004, USA Today started an annual "weight loss challenge."  Readers were encouraged to follow the stories of selected participants through a weight loss journey (updated weekly), as well as apply the same healthy living principles to their own lives.

This year, USA Today has partnered with WE TV to bring us the challenge via the television (an item that usually encourages us to just sit on the sofa and eat corn chips).  Perhaps some of us will find motivation and inspiration in this series.  Others, however, may become discouraged.

A sneak peak of the first episode (June 12, 10PM ET on WE) reminds me a lot of the popular reality show "The Biggest Loser."  The focus seems to be on deprivation–eliminating favorite foods and fun snacks, and eating only low-calorie treats.  In fact, in the preview, one woman has to justify eating a pickle slice!

Long term weight loss rarely comes from super-strict diets that eliminate all pleasurable foods.  Willpower and self-discipline will only last for so long.  For true weight loss success, we need to relearn the truth behind food–that it fuels our bodies, not our emotions.  We need to learn how to recognize physical hunger and separate it from emotional hunger.  And we need to learn how to eat the foods we enjoy while still moderating portions.

If someone told me that I’d have to give up chocolate, cookies, wine, French Fries and pasta to be thin, I’d choose to carry the spare tire around my middle.  Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way.  By exercising portion control and making smart food choices most of the time, we can still enjoy all of our favorite foods and while living a healthy life.

Honey, We’re Killing The Kids

A new addition to TLC’s lineup is a show called Honey We’re Killing The Kids!  The premise: A physician, Dr. Hark, uses the latest technology to show parents a computerized image of their children–overweight and unhealthy–at age 40.  The startling photos jolt the parents into adopting a healthier lifestyle that includes sound nutrition principles and physical activity.

Or, at least, that’s the goal.

However, the program forces the family to implement drastic, unrealistic changes that are unsustainable for the long haul.  Kids go from a diet of junk food to unfamiliar "healthy" choices like squid and tofu.  Tomboy girls are forced to take cheerleading classes.  And power struggles become the focus of the show when the children rebel against wheatgrass shakes for breakfast.

To make a permanent change from couch potato to a healthy lifestyle, new foods and activities need to be introduced gradually.  Some vegetarians don’t like tofu–so why push it on pre-teen kids who’ve never tried a soybean?  Both kids and adults are more likely to accept healthy foods if they’re familiar and similar to old favorites.

Pizza, for example, can become a nutritious meal with whole wheat crust, low-fat cheese and lots of veggies instead of pepperoni.  Soup loaded with beans and barley is a classic comfort food when paired with crusty whole wheat bread.  And veggie or turkey burgers taste just as good as the red meat version when grilled over charcoal.

The same principle is true for fitness.  If you hate competition and prefer solitary activities, you may find that walking, running or swimming are the best exercises for you.  If you prefer to be social, try a group class or team sport, like softball or volleyball.

The key to making long-lasting changes is to start slowly and stick with the familiar.  Don’t feel threatened or guilty if a particular activity or food doesn’t work for you.  Instead, find your comfort zone and focus on developing a healthy lifestyle that fits with your preferences.