GAINING MY INDEPENDENCE

By Lisa Bonner

So much has changed in the last year, not only my body, but I have also changed emotionally and spiritually.  One year ago today, July 4, 2012, there were so many things that I never dreamed of doing let alone trying.  My food addiction brought me so far down that I didn’t even realize that I had lost control over everything good in my life.  You might think to yourself that my problem is different than yours or someone that you know, but if you use food to make yourself feel better or manage your emotions, this is you.  I was looking on the computer and ran across the Skinny Gene website.  Somewhere down in my soul, I heard a voice urging me to reach out for help, but I didn’t really think anyone would contact me.  But Marlayna Bollinger took that first step and did reach out to me.  During our conversation I found encouragement, compassion, and I began to believe that maybe I could change.   Nancy Juarez, whom I will call my Life-i-tician, contacted me and the challenge began.

Even though Nancy assured me that she would help me learn how to be a healthier person I was very skeptical that I could change.  It was much more comfortable just keeping my life the way that it had been.   Nancy told me that it would not always be easy, and sometimes it hasn’t been, but I can honestly tell you that with the Skinny Gene program I have never been hungry.  That was one of my biggest fears, that and admitting that I had a problem with food.  There were weeks that I broke down and ate things that I shouldn’t have, but Nancy and my Skinny Gene Family were always supportive and got me back on track.

 1 YEAR LATER

So, here I am today, 1 year later, 87 pounds lighter and feeling so good about myself.

My journey towards freedom! Left- The old me. Middle- After losing 68 lbs, I’m beginning to “take control of me”. Right- At my missions trip in AL, I’ve shed 87 lbs and I’m finally feeling “free”!

The weight was just a way to hide myself away from the feelings that I did not want to deal with.  I have gained the energy to play with my kids, sometimes even beat them in a bike race, jogged/walked in a 5K benefit race, go to Zumba class, and just 2 weeks ago started riding a bike at least 2 miles a day.  But most importantly, I am in control of what I eat!  There are occassions that I choose to eat pizza, or sweets, but the difference now is that I am making a conscious choice to do so.  Nancy has given me the tools that I need to control my life.  One of the most blessed parts of my journey is that I have joined my life again.  Before I was so tired when I came home from work, I didn’t really participate in life to the fullest; it was just passing me by.

I am excited to say that I went on a mission’s trip for a week with our church to Wilmer, Alabama.  While we were there, guess where my job duties were. You are right, I was asked to work in the kitchen.   But despite the many temptations, and the fact that I wasn’t in control of the food choices,  I managed  to only gain 3 pounds back.

I would never have gone if I had not changed my life, because obesity is not only about fat you are carrying, but a bigger burden is the shame that weighs you down.

PAYING IT FORWARD

I will forever celebrate Independence Day as my own personal independence, because now I am free!  I can accomplish anything that I set out to do.  The only limits I have are the ones I set for myself.  I plan on continuing to ride, walk, swim, and serve others until God reveals other plans for me.  He led me to Skinny Gene, Marlayna, and Nancy.  Granted if you decide to take the path I have gone down, it will not be easy, you will have to work at it, but I promise you will never be alone.  You will have God( if you choose) and 3 guardian angels, Marlayna, Nancy , and myself( if you would like to talk to me).  I believe in paying it forward and would be so humbled to provide inspiration, friendship or whatever to someone that needs encouragement.

If you are someone that has their life under control, but has the monetary means to help someone else, I am pleading with you to do so.  You have the ability to literally save someone elses life.  If I had not found the Skinny Gene Project, I would never have been motivated to change my life.  I have not finished my journey. I still have some pounds to go, but I know that I will make it, because I believe in myself.  My Skinny Gene Family will continue to be part of my life even after I reach my goal. Hopefully I can have some part in helping someone else.  My family has also been a very important part of my journey.  If I had not had the support of my Mama, husband and wonderful children, it would have been much more difficult.  But they have also reaped the rewards of my efforts, because they exercise more, eat better, and enjoy a much happier home life.

I have many dreams for the future, and things I want to accomplish, and have no doubt that I can.   Find someone or something that inspires you and never give up.  I found inspiration in the words to a song by Miley Cyrus.  Somehow I just connected to the song and I would like to share some of the words with you, because it continues to keep me focused…..

The struggles I am facing 

The chances I am taking

Sometimes might knock me down but

No I ‘m not breaking

I may not know it but

These are the moments that

I’m gonna remember most

Just gotta keep going

And I gotta be strong

Just keep pushing on

There’s always gonna be another mountain

I am always gonna want to make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I am going to have to lose

Aint about how fast I get there

Aint about what’s waiting on the other side

It’s The Climb

Thanks again Marlayna, Nancy, and the Skinny Gene Family for all your love and support.  Thanks for making The Climb with me.

MY GOAL

My next goal is to participate in a timed 5K, and that is what I am working towards.  I am hoping to participate in the 5K  portion of the San Diego Half Marathon & 5k on March 9, 2014.  This race gives 100% of its net proceeds to chosen charities. The Skinny Gene Project is one of these charities, so I am hoping to be there myself, running beside them.  That is my most important goal for the next year, to know that I am capable of finishing something that big.

My cup runneth over!

…….

We, the Skinny Gene Family, are so incredibly proud of what Lisa has achieved.  Her hard work and determination are an inspiration to us all!  Please join us in congratulating Lisa  by leaving her an encouraging comment below.

Lisa’s Skinny Gene program is made possible by health-minded people like YOU!  Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to continue supporting Lisa’s program, as well as other very deserving members of our community who need our help “gaining their independence” and living a healthier life.

Disclaimer: The weight loss testimonial presented is applicable to the individual depicted and are not a guarantee of your weight loss nor are they typical.

We are very proud of Lisa. If you are too, please leave an encouraging comment for her below.

Lisa’s Story

I did not wake up one morning only to discover I was overweight, I had known it for a long time.  It happened so gradually that I didn’t even realize it was happening until it was too late.  I felt no longer in control, not only of my weight, but my life, food controls me I didn’t know how to stop it, do I want to stop it ?  My eating had become a part of me, part of who I was, could I change?  Food was once a friend, comforter, de-stresser, but it had evolved into my biggest enemy, it had become the stress.  How do I change something that  has become such a part of my life ?

The “old me”

I remember the day I found the Skinny Gene Project on the computer, I was searching for a solution to a problem that I was not sure could be fixed.  Obesity is a problem that fills one’s soul with self-doubt, and the ability to see a way out of the cycle that wants to suck you farther and farther away from a solution.  But somewhere inside I was desperate to reach out to someone, anyone that might know or understand the desperation that I lived with everyday, I needed to share and reach out to someone that might keep me from falling farther into the deep abyss of failing myself, and everyone that loved me.

You see that fear of failure is what keeps you in the neverending addiction to food.  I was an addict !

At first I used the food for comfort, celebration and any excuse I could use to get the “High” that I felt when I ate food that I loved.  But, as time went on, and pounds, the food I craved, I craved to calm the fears and hurt that I felt because of the things I ate.  I know it doesn’t make sense to everyone, only the people that have my addiction. But, could I risk allowing someone to know my fears of another failure?  Because if you don’t try, than you don’t fail.

I had tried hundreds of diets, lost the same 30 pounds over and over, only to end up gaining more weight and being heavier than when I started.  Left with feelings of deep guilt for failing myself and those that loved me, and lack of self “CONTROL“. Not that I realized it at that moment, but that was the root of everything ” CONTROL“.

Being overweight you learn to make jokes about yourself, comments about your weight, and every excuse you can think of to deflect the hurt and anger I felt towards myself.  Was I worth saving?  Was I worth the effort?  Would the Skinny Gene Project even want to help me?

I had not realized how sad, insecure, and betrayed I was by what my body had become, but inside I wanted to try again. I really doubted that anyone would even contact me, they didn’t know me, why would they help me when I was no longer even able to help myself ?  I received an email from someone telling me that a dietitian would contact me for an evaluation in a few days.  My past experience had taught me that the phone call was going to be one of dread, blame, more self-doubt, and more shame.  The 253 pounds on my body was what defined me, that was the only thing most people saw, that was the only thing that I could see when I looked at myself.

When Nancy Juarez called and spoke with me there was no shame, no finger pointing, no blame, just compassion for me and what I had become.  She listened to me, not just about what I ate or didn’t eat, she listened to what I was saying, but more importantly heard all the things that I would not allow myself to tell anyone, she knew.  She listened to me with such compassion, such a caring spirit that I wanted to share more and more about what I wanted to become instead of just focusing on what my body was.  I was so excited when she wanted to help me, soon I began to feel some empowerment over myself.  She believed in me when I was not yet able to believe in myself.

I started the program on July 4th of this year.  It was truly Independence Day for me.  With Nancy’s help I decided to leave the past in the past, and we would begin the journey to a new me together.  If not for the Skinny Gene Project, and Nancy Juarez, I truly don’t know what I would be today.  Don’t think that I am finished in my journey by any means, but I am on my way to what I want my body to be.  Nancy has given me the tools and knowledge to make smart choices for myself.  But of the utmost importance she has given me back the control over myself, which is what I have been seeking for so long.

Nancy  Juarez may be a dietitian to most, but she is my LIFE-a-tician , because that is what she has done is give me the knowledge to take my life back.  She continues to work with me on making good choices of what to eat, but she helped me to find myself again.  I look forward to our weekly conversations of encouragement and empowerment. She has given me the courage and self-confidence to know that I will reach my goal.  Lord knows that I have not been the most perfect student, but when I falter there is no blame or guilt she just says ” Well let’s get back on track you know you can do it, and if you don’t know you can, I know you can.”  That has given me the ability to get back on track and move forward.

In Control of “ME” (11/29/2012)

I have lost 68 pounds so far and am continuing towards my goal.  Sometimes it is 2 steps forward and one step back, but I will continue to fight for what I want.  Nancy has been an important part of my losing weight, but she can’t do it for me. I have to do my part with eating right and exercise, but without Nancy and the Skinny Gene Project believing in me and reaching out, I know that I would have never been able to start, because I truly did not know how to help myself.

Supporting the Skinny Gene Project is very important because I know that there are many people out there that are just like I was.  Waiting for someone to reach out and provide a lifeline to someone who is lost in the chaos that is obesity.  By supporting the Skinny Gene Project you truly are providing people with a chance to start new and become the person that they want to be.  I will do my part by continuing to move forward towards my goal and perhaps I can help someone along the way by giving them hope and the will to try.  If it were not for the Skinny Gene Project and Nancy Juarez, I would still be lost and alone.

If I can help one person to know that they are not alone, that people do care and will help, than it is worth every minute of exercise and sacrifice that I have made to become someone that I respect, love, and empower.  ME.  I am worth it, I am a good person, I am not alone and you don’t have to be either. You can do it, you are worthy, just believe in yourself.  I believe in you and so will Nancy.  I am happy because I am finally back in CONTROL of who I am.

Lisa

—

If you would like to speak with Nancy about gaining control of your health, please click here to schedule a free nutrition appointment (via phone).

Disclaimer: The weight loss testimonial presented is applicable to the individual depicted and are not a guarantee of your weight loss nor are they typical.

BOOST YOUR METABOLISM 

The secret to boosting your metabolism is FEEDING your body what it needs.  

You must eat the right foods, in the right quantities, to get your metabolism working for you, rather than against you. The amount of water, fat, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, cholesterol, EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids), and vitamins & minerals you consume on a daily basis will either increase your metabolism or your waistline.

The second one in our TOP 10 FAVORITE FOODS TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM is WATER! 

What if the secret to weight loss and increasing your metabolism is as simple as drinking water?

Yes it’s true; research from Virginia Tech by Dr. Brenda Davy found that being only 1% dehydrated will significantly decrease your metabolic rate.   On the other hand, staying hydrated will help you to eat less calories and lose weight.

Water also keeps your kidneys cleansed and your joints lubricated. It flushes toxins from your system and keeps your skin healthy and looking good.

WATER

To put it all in perspective, our bodies are 60% water. We lose approximately 9-10 cups of water daily (and even more if you exercise or are in hot weather), therefore it is essential for you to drink enough water to make up for what you lose to prevent slowing down your metabolism.  

An added bonus is that water is filling.  Dr. Davy’s research found that drinking 2 cups of water before meals helps reduce your calorie intake, which will result in weight loss.

 How  can water help optimize your metabolism?

1.       Drink the right amount

The American Dietetic Association recommends drinking 9 cups (8 oz each) of water per day for women and 13 cups of water per day for men.

Another rule of thumb is to take your weight in pounds, and divide it in half to calculate your water intake goal.  For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you require ~75 fluid ounces of water per day.

2.       Listen to your body

Pay attention to the warning signs of dehydration. 

When using the bathroom, check the color of your urine. The pale or clear color indicates good hydration, where as a darker yellow color indicates dehydration. 

Constipation may also be a result of dehydration. 

Lastly, thirst is a late indicator of dehydration, so be sure to drink before you are thirsty.

Tips to Maximize Your Water Intake

• Take a drink every time you pass a water fountain
• Keep a glass or bottle of water at your desk if you’re a “subconscious” sipper
• Instead of a coffee break, take a water break
• Drink sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon at social gatherings
• Drink water prior to each meal and throughout the day
• Plan ahead, drink water prior to the start of your outdoor activities. Bring plenty of water in a cooler
• If drinking alcohol, alternate each alcoholic beverage with a full glass of water
• Use sweat as a red flag warning!  When you sweat you lose even more water, therefore you need to drink more!
• Carry a water bottle with you as a reminder to drink
• Add lemon and/or cucumber slices to water for refreshment
• Eat a lot of water rich fruits and vegetables, most contain 80-90% water 

Fruits and vegetable with greater than 90% water content

 Cabbage, Cucumber, Tomato, Broccoli , Celery, Spinach , Lettuce, Cauliflower, Zucchini, Peppers, Watermelon, Strawberries, Grapefruit, Cantaloupe

Adding to the frustration is the fact that not all metabolism perform equally. Where one person can just look at food and gain weight another can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound?

Before you decide to hijack somebody else’s metabolism or simply give-up on your own, know this… every body has a Skinny Gene. Some people just have to put in a little more effort to get their metabolism working for them, rather than against them.

We, the Skinny Gene Project, specialize in creating healthy metabolisms. To help you ignite your Skinny Gene, we put together a FREE email series on foods you can eat that will improve your overall health and boost your metabolism. SIGN UP TODAY

Your metabolism is one of the most complicated systems in your body. Some people with a master’s degree in nutrition have a hard time understanding all of its complexities, so how can you be expected to know how to speed up your metabolism? That’s why we’re here to help!

HOW TO SPEED UP YOUR METABOLISM

Unfortunately, there is no miracle pill or food, that when taken by itself, will boost your metabolism. Think of your metabolism as being a system that only operates because of the sum of its parts, like a bicycle.

Similar to a bicycle, your metabolism needs momentum (action) to work. You have to exert energy to push the pedals. The harder you pedal, the faster you go. Like the bicycle, the more exercise and energy you exert the better your metabolism will perform.

Exercise (energy) is just one part. You also need to eat the right foods, in the right quantities, to optimize your metabolism.

The food is the foundation; it is the “wheel” that keeps your metabolism going. Just as the spokes of the wheel support the rim, the quality of the foods you eat support the health of your metabolism.

Imagine that each spoke on the wheel represents: water, fat, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, cholesterol, EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids), and vitamins & minerals. To make your metabolism as “strong” as possible, you would need to ensure that your body is getting the right amount of each nutrient (e.g. fiber). Eating too much or too little of each element could slow down your metabolism, like peddling through mud or having sticks in your spokes.

Below are 25 of our favorite foods to improve your metabolism (in no particular order):

Metabolism Boosting Foods

1. Cocoa
2. Water
3. Blueberries
4. Flax
5. Sweet potato
6. Avocado
7. Tomato
8. Yogurt
9. Cinnamon
10. Garlic
11. Beans
12. Almonds
13. Apples
14. Egg whites/Beaters
15. Soybean
16. Lemon
17. Ginger
18. Brussel sprouts
19. Spinach
20. Olive oil
21. Oats
22. Fish
23. Cottage cheese
24. Chick peas
25. Lima beans

Sign up for our FREE newsletter series that talks about our top 10 foods, why they can help your metabolism , and how to avoid traps that can slow down the metabolism.

We hope the information above and our free email series, Boost Your Metabolism, will give you some guidance and get on the path towards living a longer, healthier life. (click to sign up)

If you are interested in having your diet analyzed to determine if you are eating the right amount of each of the following nutrients listed above ( e.g. EFA, fiber, carbohydrates), click here to receive this months discounts and offers.

Have additional questions, feel free to contact us. We’re always here to help.

Sign up for our Boost Your Metabolism Series

Many Skinny Gene members who have been successful in weight loss for better health and diabetes prevention have been presented with the same question from their family and friends.  How did you lose it and keep it off?

We ask the questions, but what do we want to hear the answer? 

Are we asking if they went on a miracle diet, dropping pounds and pounds of weight just by taking a tiny pill a day or eliminating broccoli from their diet?  We search and search for that special combination that will give us a quick fix, well, unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that it’s just not that easy…or is it? 

What’s not easy is the commitment to better health.   About 45 million Americans diet each year, we spend $1 billion to 2 billion per year on weight-loss programs with little success.  Many of our programs out there are targeted for weight loss, but they are unable to maintain the weight loss once the program ends.  So my question is why does the program ever end…and why is it a program anyway?  We need to commit to a healthy lifestyle, not a diet that lasts 10 days or 3 months. 

The diet for diabetes gets a bad rap.  We assume diabetics must automatically eliminate all sugar and carbohydrates from their diet….such punishment.  When in actuality this is not true, we should all be eating like diabetics.  There are 5 key things to focus on:

1.  Fiber – found in fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains, helps maintain the blood sugars
2. Antioxidants –  found in color rich foods such as berries and spinach , help reduce oxidative stress (toxins) in the body
3. Nutrient dense foods – great sources are fruits and vegetables, low calories with many vitamins and minerals and oh, yes, fiber
4. Fat free dairy – great sources are milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese, help meet your calcium requirements while reducing weight, blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease
5. Eat breakfast every morning – try to reach for some of those fiber rich cereals and antioxidant rich fruits

Hmmm…do you see a common thread with our 5 keys to a healthier lifestyle, diabetic or not?  Yes!  Focus on fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains, and you won’t have time to eat much more, well, maybe a little lean protein and essential fat, but you know what we are talking about.  We need to give up the miracle weight loss scheme and commit to follow these principles for better health.  It’s not a magic pill or super duper weight loss overnight, but it will help our body shed those extra pounds and be healthier over time.

By Emily Barr, MS, RD, CNSC

Want More?? Check out these posts from Emily…

Meet Emily

Sweets & Sabotages

Sugar Aliases

Halloween Temptations

High Five to Healthy Lunches

Vitamin D: Sunshine Vitamin, or not?

Summertime Drinks that Won’t Bust Your Diet or Your Waistline

Best Defense Against Cellulite

Water Filled Summer

Value Menu-Eat now, Pay later

Different ages, different requirements to be healthy

Kids Really Do Like Fruits and Vegetables

Spring into Green

Quick!  What’s your first reaction to these 3 words…Just 10 pounds?

It’s interesting. These 3 words can evoke a different response from different people depending on their past experiences and how they view their future. 

Discouraged: A person who has 50 or more pounds to lose might not be able to see the significance in losing 10 pounds, and is instead discouraged by the idea that “it’s just 10 pounds” and there’s so much more to go. 

Hopeful: A mother, who recently had a baby and is anxious to get back into her favorite pair of jeans, might feel as though losing just 10 pounds is the difference between what “is” and what ”could be”.    

Disconnected: For a person who has tried countless times to lose weight, failed, and finally gave up. Just 10 pounds may feel out of reach. To them, there is an inherent contradiction in the words “just” and “10 pounds”, since “just” implies that something is easy, and for them losing 10 pounds (for good) is anything but that.

Regardless of whether the idea of losing weight is led by anxiety or optimism, we want you to know that “Just 10 Pounds” should ALWAYS be associated with 3 equally simple words – “A BIG DEAL”.

Whether losing 10 pounds is a part of the journey or the goal, ONE thing is undeniable…

Just 10 pounds is empowering; it can become life changing.

 
With just 10 pounds, comes confidence and optimism, and of course – prevention.

Yes, with 10 pounds you may see a difference in your clothes (maybe even drop a dress size), but the most important benefits are those that aren’t as visibly noticeable.

Did you know that losing Just 10 Pounds might drastically improve or prevent the further development of these 10 serious health problems?

1. type 2 diabetes
2. stroke
3. coronary heart disease
4. metabolic syndrome
5. certain types of cancer
6. sleep apnea
7. osteoarthritis
8. gallbladder disease
9. fatty liver disease
10. pregnancy complications

 Remember, it all begins with “Just 10”.

We’re all unique, and the things that make us different also influence the impact weight loss can have on our health. If you would like to learn how 10 pounds can make a difference in your life, we’d like the chance to talk to you.

Just click here and member of our nutrition team will contact you soon!

By Eye so green

By Nancy Juarez, Skinny Gene Bilingual Nutritionist

During  the course of our lives, we go through many stages, whether it is childhood, adolescence, or the transition to becoming an adult. But there is one thing that NEVER changes – the love and support from our FAMILY.

Over these last several weeks, I have encountered different ways in which I affect the lives of not only these wonderful individuals I have the pleasure of working with, but their families as well. For me, this is a way of giving a piece of myself to make the world a better place. Keeping it true to the saying “even the smallest things can make the biggest difference.”

At each appointment, I have the chance to ask every patient how their week went. I enjoy these opportunities to get to know a little more about each of them and gain a better understanding of what’s going on in their lives.  During my normal chat with Alice, I learned something interesting. Something I’d like to now share with you.

From the very beginning, Alice has done extremely well in the program. She’s shown her dedication to improving her family’s health in addition to her own. Her family consists of herself, her husband, and 6 children. As you may know, this is quite a handful!

Alice makes the time to continue with the program and apply what she learns at home. Creating a healthy home is particularly important for this family of 8. Her son has suffered from high blood pressure since he was small. Alice had been to many doctors to try to find an answer to this problem, since the main contributing factors (which are weight and heredity) are not an issue in her family.

This week she came in extremely happy. She was happy to report that her son has had his blood pressure controlled during these past few months, solely based on what she had taught him!

Alice’s son isn’t the only one in the house that is benefiting from Alice’s healthy lifestyle changes. Her mother, who has had an extremely difficult time losing weight in the past, is amazed by her own weight loss. Even Alice’s husband slimmer waistline is feeling the effects of this new healthy home. It’s apparent, that in this house anyway, health is contagious!

It makes feel so accomplished to know that Skinny Gene is not only making positive changes in Alice’s life, but also her family’s.

And it brings me to want to share this quote with you from the Dalai Lama “With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.”

This makes me feel that not only am I helping an individual person, but we are helping make the world a healthier place one person at a time.

What More???

Meet Nancy

Lose a little, Gain a lot

Your Body’s Talking, Are You Listening?

Great Things Happening for Skinny Gene in TX

For some people the most difficult part of losing weight is staying motivated and to keep persevering when you just want to give up.  Here are some tips and tools to help you stay motivated. 

1)      Remind yourself that you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want OR you can be thinner. You can’t have both. Make this your mantra. Repeat it aloud at vulnerable times.

2)      Set a fitness goal.  A 5K run/walk, sprint triathlon, mud run, or a challenging bike ride.  Get creative and have fun with it.  Find something that gets you out of your comfort zone, but that is also doable.  www.active.com is full of athletic activities and events all over the country.  Find something that looks fun and sign up today!

3)      Email, text or call an accountability friend everyday to tell them about your day.  When you have to report to someone else, when you feel a level of pressure which tends to change how you think and act. 

4)      Take measurements of your body at the beginning of your weight loss journey.  It’s easy to get discouraged if the number on the scale doesn’t move as quickly as you’d like.  Check out http://www.ivillage.com/how-do-i-take-my-measurements/4-n-142316 to learn the best way to take your measurements.

5)      Reward yourself.  Make small measurable goals to earn non-food rewards.  Some reward ideas might include a pedicure, massage, date night, or a new book … the possibilities are endless.  Another idea is to throw a dollar in a jar for every 30 minutes you work out.  Add some cash each time you lose a couple of pounds.  At the end of the month go shopping for clothes to fit your new slimmer self. 

6)      Dr. Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., Director of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, suggests making a long list of reasons you want to be thinner and healthier. Read that list each morning and have it handy when you’re not feeling especially motivated.

7)      Surround yourself with success stories and weight loss information.  Read Self magazine, find weight loss articles and success stories online, and seek out friends who have lost weight.  It’s inspiring to see others who have succeeded at reaching their weight loss goals.

8)      Don’t let one bad meal or snack ruin your entire day.   Don’t beat yourself up about it and get right back on track at your next meal.  Too often people make a bad food choice and use it as an excuse to eat poorly the rest of the day.   It can be a very detrimental pattern and will undoubtedly sideline any weight loss goal.

9)      Make a list of things to do when you get a craving for unhealthy foods.  Go for a walk, read a magazine, take a bath, or play with your pet.  Focus on something else and your craving should pass in 5-10 minutes.

10)  Keep a log of your food, exercise, and weight loss. Studies show that people who are successful at losing and maintaining their weight are good at self-monitoring. “And remember to put positive feelings in print, too, to review on days you need a boost,” says Rachna D. Jain, Psy.D., a lifestyle coach and licensed psychologist in Columbia, Maryland.  It feels good to look back at all your hard work and be proud of all that you’ve accomplished.

On each and every weight loss journey everyone struggles with bouts of doubt and weight loss plateaus.  It’s what you do when in the face of these struggles that defines your success.

Proving they know how to achieve summertime success, 10 of our members have lost a total of 182 pounds – of which all but 42 were shed within the last 90 days.  More important than the pounds lost, are the second chances at life that have been gained.

You see, these aren’t just “lovin’ the way you look” kinda pounds. For many of our members, it is the first time they are experiencing success in a weight loss battle that has been raging for more years than they can count.  They have pride in what they’ve accomplished and confidence that those pesky pounds are finally gone, for good.

I wish we could take full credit for their success, but we can’t.  Yes, our program takes a unique approach towards weight management, but the real difference is the way our members have learned to rethink success.

 Most of the time, we associate SUCCESS with a finished product, an outcome, a result.  Successful weight loss includes weight management – which means you have the task of not only taking off the weight, but more importantly, keeping it off. 

In the past, our members would approach weight loss like they were running a race. The start date is the starting line, and they cross the finish line when they achieve their goal (like losing 30 pounds).  What they’ve come to realize is that reaching their weight loss goal is just the first step, keeping it off is the real challenge.  Weight management doesn’t have a beginning and end; it is something we all must work at every day. 

Success is making the best decision with the options given- one meal, one day at a time.

We’re proud of these 10 Skinny Gene members for learning how to overcome daily temptations, making healthier choices, and focusing on the positive actions taken during their journeys towards living healthier lives.