Track Your Workouts, Lose Weight Faster

September 9th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Weight Loss - (19 Comments)

This is the second post in a three part series about measuring the various aspects related to weight loss to more effectively achieve weight loss success.

I want to start by saying that when it comes to losing weight, I use to put WAY more emphasis on exercise than I do now.  Being active is certainly an important part a healthy life – but studies suggest (and from what I’ve found in my own experience as well), improving the quality of your food and being mindful about how much you eat can have a much bigger impact on weight loss when compared to exercise alone.  This is why the calorie counting post came first and a post about keeping an exercise log came second.  Read more...

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Calorie Counting for Weight Loss Success

September 2nd, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Weight Loss - (7 Comments)

This is the first post in a three part series about measuring the various aspects related to weight loss to improve your chances of weight loss success.

I’m starting with food journaling because in my experience, it was the changes in my diet that had the most significant impact on my weight loss when compared to exercise alone.  Whether or not you count calories – true weight loss comes down to consuming fewer calories than you burn.  Read more...

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Fat is Your Friend

September 1st, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Healthy Habits - (4 Comments)

I just read a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine from June of this year concerning the changes in diet and lifestyle and long-term weight gain in women and men.

More than 120,000 healthy men and women were observed over the course of 20 years.  Their change in weight was evaluated at 4 year intervals.

The results of the study showed that within each 4-year period, study participants gained an average of just over 3 pounds.  (Ever notice how easily your weight can creep up over the years?)  With a 3 pounds gain being the average – a 4 lb weight loss at one end of the spectrum and 12 lb weight gain at the other end.  Read more...

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The First Line of Your Weight Loss Success Story

August 26th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Weight Loss - (4 Comments)

“what gets measured gets managed.”

That’s a quote from a guy named Peter Drucker.  It’s most typically applied in the world of business and marketing, but it can easily be applied to any aspect of your life that you would like to improve.

For our purposes today, let’s apply it to weight loss.

In short, the things you keep close track of are what get your attention and effort.  When you monitor and track and act with intention, you are much more likely to get the results you’re after.
  Read more...

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One Step Toward a Healthier Diet

July 1st, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Healthy Habits - (6 Comments)

Sometimes eating better is more about what you don’t buy as compared to what you do buy.  One trick to making healthier food choices more frequently is to simply stop buying unhealthy foods in first place.  That might sound painfully obvious or maybe it feels absolutely impossible – but if you can manage to leave these foods at the store, it works like a charm for a few reasons:

1. It’s much easier to resist temptation at the grocery store.

Especially if you eat before you shop.  Read more...

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Sprints Are Great, I Swear!

June 22nd, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Fitness - (7 Comments)

I try to be a model parent.

I eat my vegetables.  I brush my teeth.  I make a genuine effort to not swear in front of my children – or so I liked to believe.

As it turns out, Maxine and I had a very revealing conversation at bedtime the other night while discussing homonyms.

(You know… their/there/they’re, two/to/too, you/ewe, know/no)

Maxine (contributing to our list of examples): Like, sit and sit!

Me: Sit?

Maxine:  Sit like when you “sit down”, and sit like you say when you’re frustrated.

Oh, sit.  Read more...

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Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss

June 5th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in - (255 Comments)

Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss

What Is Intermittent Fasting?

In short, Intermittent Fasting is going an extended period of time without eating.  Although it might sound like an eating disorder in the making, Intermittent Fasting is simply a different style of eating that is safe, effective and comes with a slew of health benefits (including fat loss) when done the right way.  Read more...

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Doing the Calorie Math

June 4th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in - (2 Comments)

When it comes to weight loss, it all boils down to the math equation that is calories in < calories out.  If you’ve been on a quest to lose weight for any length of time, you may already have some understanding of this.  But if like me, pre 35 lb weight loss, you don’t really understand the role that calories play in weight loss and maintenance – this page is for you.  Read more...

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More Weight Loss Posts and Pages

May 17th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in - (0 Comments)

I wish I could tell you that there was a fast and easy way to lose weight.

There are plenty of easy ways to lose weight, but they aren’t fast.

And there are plenty of fast ways to lose weight too, but they aren’t easy. Or fun. Or safe.

Real, lasting weight loss is not going to happen overnight. There is no magic bullet and there are no short cuts that work for long.

You can definitely lose the weight you’ve always wanted to lose, but it’s definitely going to mean some work and effort on your part. It’s not always going to be easy, but nothing worth having ever is.  Read more...

Weight Maintenance and Weight Gain Recovery

November 27th, 2010 | Posted by Alison Spath in - (4 Comments)

Losing over 35 pounds was without a doubt a major turning point in my life. While I have not had much trouble maintaining my weight thanks to regular exercise, healthy habits and real, lasting life style changes, I’ve still had periods over the past few years where a little weight creeps on and I’ve had to make a conscious effort to lose it again.  Read more...

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