Today I met with a wonderful woman who has been slowly
losing weight. We meet periodically; sometimes she has
lost a few pounds, and sometimes she has gained a bit.
Overall, though, her weight has been going down and she is
happy.
This visit she didn't lost any weight, but she felt that
her clothes were becoming "easier" to put on. We talked
about how, with activity, she may be increasing her
muscles. I explained that while muscles take increase
weight, they take up less space than fat. So it is possible
that while she isn't see a change of weight on the scale,
it is because she is gaining muscle. I explained this is
referred to as "changing her body composition" and that's
why her clothes are feeling looser. She may weigh the
same…but she is taking up less space!
I asked her what her secret was, and she told me: she was
now salsa dancing, and she loved it. This was a new
activity for her, it was social, fun, and, as a side
benefit, it burned a lot of calories.
We went on to discuss what her strategies were for the
holidays. Most folks are so concerned about gaining weight
during this time that they are unable to enjoy the wonder
of the season. They are afraid of losing control of their
diets, and just can't allow themselves the comfort of being
with friends and family. So it is especially important to
me to talk with my clients to make sure they can enjoy
themselves during the holidays. We work to put together
ideas to help them feel in control during these few months.
"I am going to dance through the holidays-that's how I'm
going to make it". She said this with a big grin on her
face and then she laughed. Isn't that wonderful? She has
taken up this exciting new hobby, and has decided that if
she can keep on dancing, watch what she's eating, and
maintain her weight during the next two months-her goals
have been met. While she intends to pay some attention to
food, she knows she doesn't want to obsess about eating.
And she also knows that if she keeps on dancing, she will
be able to burn some of those extra calories and, more
importantly, continue to enjoy herself.
I think we all need to find out how to dance through the
holidays. We all need to find our strategies during these
times when we are surrounded by food and drink. My concern
is that too many people think they should be losing weight
during the holidays, and this is a recipe for failure.
What happens? You decide to deprive yourself of the foods
you love, you are afraid to go to the parties so you become
anxious around people you haven't socialized with (not to
mention the food), and the holidays become so stressful you
aren't able to enjoy yourself.
My suggestion to my clients, and to everyone who is
concerned about their weight? Find yourself an activity you
enjoy (walking, running, jumping up and down-anything that
involves moving), and try to do it as often as you can,
without setting yourself an impossible goal. Remember to
take a deep breath, have a look at EVERYTHING that is being
offered (time to be with special people, listen to music,
cook,) and taste it all.
So this person is going to dance through the holidays.
What about you?
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