New Year – New Goals

As the year winds down (hard to believe 2010 is almost over), I’m taking a look at the goals that I set for myself and how many I accomplished versus those that I need to carry-over to 2011 or perhaps reassess. We always focus on the few things we didn’t do and forget about the numerous things did do. While I can’t check everything off my list, it was a fruitful year.

If I had to summarize the year with one statement, it would be “Life is full of seasons, some with peaks and some with valleys. Enjoy the peaks and grow from the valleys. Every valley has its reason, determine the why, get the lesson, and move on. Each valley only makes you stronger for the next and helps you truly appreciate the peaks when they come.”

What is it that you want to finally accomplish or at least get started in 2011? Losing weight? A career change? Getting that Masters? Nothing is impossible. You are only limited by your own fears – fear of change, fear of hard work, and even the fear of success.

Webinar Replay 12/16/10

Diet Pill – Phentermine

Count down to Christmas continues and just to deviate a little from the holiday spirit, someone recently asked about one of those weight loss drugs, Phentermine. Well, you know I’m totally against weight loss drugs because they all come with a host of side effects and cannot be taken for extended periods. This one in particular has a max of three months.

Meanwhile, what about your diet and exercise habits? While the FAQs suggest that the drug is not to be used as a replacement for proper diet and exercise, most people make little to no changes and rely solely on the drug for weight loss. And, if you do make changes, then why take the drug? Just to speed up the results?

Despite the success of some, what happens when you stop taking weight loss drugs? You eventually gain the weight back. Then what? Start taking them again? The emotional roller coaster is very depressing. None of us blew up overnight, yet we want a quick fix. Our society has programmed us to believe there is a pill for everything. And, there practically is. However, only a lifestyle change will provide safe, sustainable weight loss results.

Extra Pounds

It’s starting to look a lot like Christmas, decorations are popping up everywhere and the malls are packed. Office parties have started and my calendar is filling with family and friend gatherings. While I love to eat, I also have to be careful, because it’s easy for me to pack on about five extra pounds between now and New Year’s. It’s not just all the food everywhere, but the added stress of doing more and having less time to fix meals and workout. However, I can’t use time as an excuse. So, no matter what, I stick to my regular routine of fixing healthy meals and taking my lunch, as well as getting in my workouts. I recently read that it takes about two extra hours in the gym to work off the average holiday party meal. I can’t allow the temporary madness of the season to get me off track or use it as an excuse to eat everything I see. I’m eating with discretion and only those things that are really special in small portions. And, to ward off the extra pounds, I also have to work out a little more.  One month of splurging is not worth the three months it takes to get it off.