Check out this article about sugar addiction. Many people who struggle with overeating are really responding to an addiction to sugar. There is a real physical dependency that contributes to our difficulty in giving up these foods. The first step to tackling this problem is to mindfully tune in to what is going on in our… Read More »
Do you have to meditate or become a Buddhist to live a mindful life? Will all of your stress go away if you practice mindfulness? Isn’t mindfulness just the next new fad? Should you try to “clear your mind of thoughts?” The answer to all of those questions is “no.” Awhile ago I wrote a… Read More »
Or “How to Start a Weight Loss Plan Even if it is the 100th Time You’ve Tried” Consider the following quote from meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg: “It is never too late to turn on the light. Your ability to break an unhealthy habit or turn off an old tape doesn’t depend on how long it… Read More »
Massachusetts General Hospital has a program where its doctors write prescriptions for outdoor activity as a way to improve health (Outdoor Rx). This is one of those “Wouldn’t it be nice if…” moments that has actually materialized. “Wouldn’t it be nice” if doctors handed out prescriptions for walking the dog, hiking, or playing catch rather… Read More »
“If you don’t like your world, change yourself (in a positive way). By virtue of changing yourself, your world will change…” This simple axiom can be very powerful. Research has shown we make over 200 decisions about food every day. Most of these decisions are driven by external factors. In our fast paced, sedentary world… Read More »
The study of mindfulness as it relates to health is an exciting, emerging field. This study discusses how mindfulness affects a variety of health outcomes. I love the way the researchers define mindfulness: “Mindfulness is defined as a person’s awareness of his or her mental and physical states — one’s thoughts, emotions and needs.” Too… Read More »
One key component of mindfulness is self-compassion. We tend to be very harsh with ourselves. This is especially true around weight loss. Self-hatred, poor body image, guilt, and shame are common emotions for people struggling with their weight. These emotions often lead to a vicious cycle of emotional eating (due to negative emotions) and then… Read More »
This excellent article from Mindful talks about the neuroscience of “bad habits.” This is worth reading to understand exactly what is going on in your brain with compulsive overeating (or any compulsion or addiction). Basically, it is all about dopamine—the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation and the rush of pleasure. Here’s how it goes, according to… Read More »
A Mindful Life is one that is lived with a greater sense of awareness and intention. When it comes to weight loss, it is a life that integrates the Five Areas of Weight Loss. The precise inter-relationship of these five areas is unique to our program. The Five Areas of Weight Loss are: 1. The… Read More »
What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is not necessarily meditation, although there is a type of meditation called “mindfulness meditation.” For the purposes of this program, mindfulness is defined as “non-judgmental awareness.” The first part of that definition–non-judgmental—entails creating an attitude of acceptance about circumstances, reactions, feelings, mental states, and relationships. In order to lose weight, you… Read More »