New Show... inspiration lurking...

Chris Powell Trainer/Transformation Specialist on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition”

Chris Powell exploded onto the fitness scene with his unorthodox approach, becoming a pioneer for a new hybrid of fitness professionals. He has captured national attention with the largest and fastest natural weight loss ever documented, transforming the life of David Smith who lost 401 lbs in 26 months. It was Chris’s unyielding dedication to another that captured the heart of America as he shared his story on such national shows as “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “20/20,” “The View,” as well as a one-hour documentary for TLC. Chris is currently traveling the country in ”Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition,” a documentary-style series, where he will use his innovative techniques, education and expertise to guide extremely overweight individuals as they shed hundreds of pounds over the course of a year. “Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition,” scheduled to air in spring of 2011 on ABC, will assemble each participant’s story into a stand-alone episode. Chris will be taking an extra step as he guides the participants through their transformations by moving into their homes. By assuring that they have the proper nourishment and exercise movement, he will provide a fresh perspective to individuals whose lives have become unmanageable because of their weight. Chris is well-equipped to take on this latest assignment. He holds a degree in Exercise Science, with concentrations in biomechanics and physiology and the training accreditation: The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He has been the Transformation Pro on KTVK’s “Good Morning Arizona” for the last six years – delivering tips, shortcuts, and tricks of the trade to the largest news viewing audience in Arizona. “The human body is an amazing machine that we can transform naturally,” Chris says. “I have devoted my being to developing innovative lifestyles and tools to enrich the lives of others – and each life changed has been a remarkable gift.”

Unbearable Lightness..Portia De Rossi

Dressing up

Try to find a way to dress up you boring ol chicken salad... make the plate look like it could have been served in a expensive restaurant!

Video Blog - Week 3 - Stay Honest with yourself!

Video Blog Week 2 - Stay Positive!

Wendy's Weekly Video Blog- Week 1

Week 1 - Success!

Week 1 - 7 lbs lost

Got on the scale today for my first weigh - in in 2011.. and success!

I have been analyzing myself and my weight gain for weeks now! And I have found the reason , I think, for my failure.

As you know I had started my diet on January 1, 2008 with joining a gym and get a personal trainer. I had worked hard with my trainer, weighed in every week for her and stuck to my diet of eating less as well.

Back in September 2009 my trainer had to stop training me because of her own move up the corporate ladder from going from trainer to gym manager. She still wrote out exercises for me, but it was never the same. She left me hanging! I had asked her for new trainer and she said she still wanted to train me but from watching me from her office as she worked... that's where she made the error, I kind of blame her for not getting me another trainer to train me as she did before, with seeing her twice a week, and being with me for the full hour right beside me. Because she disrupted the ' project'

I compare it to, as a student, say you are preparing for a big audition and you have you weekly lesson with your teacher to prepare, and 4 weeks before the audition your teacher ups and leaves you.

I lost my motivation, my guru, my teacher, my disciplinarian. I tried working out on my own, but just lost the motivation, but more importantly I started staying home at night and started watching TV again. Back in January 2010 I got sick with a bad flu ( I think even it was a light strain of H1N1) and I was in bed for about 2 weeks. Then the Vancouver Olympics started. Now I really stayed home and was glued to the TV watching the wonderful competitions!

I was slowly gaining all the weight back...every morning I would say to myself.. okay Wendy that's enough! .. but by the time the evening came after a day at work, I came home and sat and watched TV and started eating my old favourites and additive foods.

The inspiration to go to the gym was lost.. why should I ? my trainer is not there.. she isn' t there to see my through, ' hold my hand' .. my PROJECT!

There it is- PROJECT that was what this is all about! Every one says.. it's a life style change.. well that's not the way I see it now! it's a project until reach your goal!

Win the Audition! then.. after your life ' style' starts! I hadn't reached the goal yet!

So my new 'project' has now started again, and this time I will succeed!

On the Biggest Loser you see all sorts of success stories of weight-loss, but you don't hear or see them after the show... that's because over 50% gain the weight back.. that's not good TV!

So they don't report that part!

So this week was very very hard, I must admit, but I stuck to my guns! My family knows all about this new endeavour, and is very supportive! and that's what counts!

I have started with walking and eating right. My weight gain was enormous as you can see, that's why I have to take it slow. But at least I have my eating under control again! All those addictive foods are out of my house. I have totally emptied my freezer! it's empty! I go to bed at 10pm so as not to get that late night snack urge.

Yes food is addictive, and I have an addiction, so I just stay completely away from it ! not even a 100 calorie bag of popcorn, that leads to eating more bags in one night... Carbs and sugar are my pit falls.... so I just cut them out.

My diet consistes of Fibre, Veggies, Fruit and protein.

My ' Project ' is now off to flying start... see you at the finish line!

New Year... Big Revelations ....

Hello again... I'm sure I'm all alone on cyberspace here in my blog... as all my followers have lost hope... and I don't blame you!

But it's a new year and I have done tons of soul searching as to why my diet did not work.

This is a posting for myself!

Motivation, Strength, Determination, and being really,really strict with myself are the key elements in making any changes.

As you know I have been busy with trying to lose weight for the last 3 years. Back in January 2008 I pledged to start my big diet. A new big Project!

Well as you all know, I gained back ALL the weight I lost in the last 2 years. I gained back in 12 months, the work that took me 2 years, and it's very disappointing! I'm very disappointed in myself.

Well I"m back to square one! I am determined to get this weight off again, and then some

So I weighed in this morning, wrote my weight down on my kitchen calendar, this time for ' my eyes only'... and will continue weighing in every Saturday for now on!

I have to analyzed too death the reason why I ' fell' off the diet.. and those revelations are to follow in my upcoming posts....

Stay tuned Wendy! and stick to your goal... and this new fresh start!

It's a project... PROJECT is the key word!

It's been a long looooong time...

I'm back!.... tune in on January 1st...

A whopping 414 Calories!

Ikea cinnamon bun is cheap, cheerful and chock full of calories

June 9, 2010Megan Ogilvie
HEALTH REPORTER

DISH: Cinnamon bun with cream cheese icing

RESTAURANT: Ikea’s “Exit Café”

LOCATION: Ikea Burlington, 1065 Plains Rd. E.

PRICE: $1.30

Serving size: 114 grams

Calories: 414

Fat: 13 grams

Sodium: 752 mg

Protein: 8 grams

Carbohydrates: 67 grams

RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE

Men/Women

Calories: 2,500/2,000

Fat: 60 to 105 grams/45 to 75 grams

Sodium: 1,500 to 2,300 mg

Carbohydrates: 281-325 grams

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Food isn’t usually on the top of the shopping list for Ikea-goers. But once inside the sprawling space, it’s hard not to get sucked into wanting everything the neat, sleek, Swedish life has to offer.

Most of us have been known to come away with an “I-don’t-really-need-but-would-look-nice-on-my-couch” cushion or an architecturally pretty glass vase or a cinnamon bun from the conveniently located “Exit Café.”

Suddenly, it becomes nearly impossible to get out the door without a warm, sticky cinnamon bun in hand. That’s what half a million of us found last year, anyway.

According to Ikea, 500,000 cinnamon buns were sold at the four GTA stores in 2009.

You might have thought: “I just spent $50 on a lamp. What’s $1.30 for a tasty, to-go treat?”

Well, a lot of calories.

Ikea’s cinnamon buns aren’t the biggest — they’re about the size of a thick-slice of bread. But that impulse buy still packs 414 calories.

“That’s really what you should eat in a meal,” says registered dietitian Zannat Reza. “While this is good for your wallet, it’s not great for waistline if you eat this on a regular basis.”

And the bun is pretty salty. With 753 mg of sodium, it contains about half of what your body requires in a day and is the equivalent of 12 shakes with the salt shaker.

People who grab and go know they aren’t getting a nourishing snack. But Reza says they might be surprised that a single cinnamon bun has about the same amount of calories as two maple-dip donuts.

“You might think twice about eating two donuts, but not give a second thought to eating a cinnamon bun.”

The calories come from processed and refined carbohydrates, which cause blood sugar levels to spike, then crash, leaving snackers hungry soon after eating the bun.

“These 414 calories are not satiating,” Reza says. “There’s no protein here, there is no whole grains and hardly any fibre, the things that help you feel full.”

Those looking for a sweet after the check-out could opt for a cone of frozen yogurt, which likely has about 100 calories.

And cutting the cinnamon bun into two — or, even better, into four — pieces to share with your shopping buddy or your kids will cut the calories to a reasonable snack amount.

JUST BLAME THE HORN

No... not really... but, it would be nice to blame someone for these last 6 months of diet disappointments...

But life is a roller coster ! Right ?

Yuup... back on track.. for the gazzilionth time I've said this in the last 6 months... this time I mean it... why you ask...

Just because!

Sylvie my personal trainer has been very patient and understanding, but now she is on my case, and it helps.. I weigh-in EVERY DAY at the gym! up or down... just get on that dam scale...

I lost 6 pounds this week... it's something.. but many, many more to go

My trainer says.. " Wendy ! STOP !!! just stop looking back... only look forward... forget about what your weight used to be, you know how to do it, and you can do it again.. ! "

Okay!

Slow but steady

HEY EVERYONE... I'm still here... been going to the gym almost everyday for 2 weeks now!

I have to be honest... it's really, really hard to get back on track. I haven't lost any weight yet, because even though I have been going to the gym, I still need to cut back on my eating, and sometimes bad choice eating as well. I'm getting there though... I have cleaned out my cupboards and fridge of all the crap... now to just stay away from the stores late at night...

here's an interesting story FYI

Will posting calorie content on menus lead to healthier choices?

May 7, 2010

Comments on this story (4)

Megan Ogilvie
HEALTH REPORTER

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Toxic dilemma

Students at the University of Waterloo will soon have an edge on the rest of us when they grab lunch at the school’s food court.

They’ll know, from just a quick glance at the menu, whether the healthy looking salad will do more harm to their waistlines than the meat-covered pizza, or if the benign-sounding turkey club is in fact a lurking calorie bomb.

Unless policy-makers make a sudden move, the students will be the only ones in Canada to see a restaurant list an item’s calorie content alongside its price tag.

It’s all part of a new study to test whether posting nutrition information on restaurant menus helps people to make healthier food choices. The study, funded by the Canadian Cancer Society, is the first of its kind in Canada.

“This is potentially a high-profile policy issue, it’s surprising that more hasn’t been done,” says the study’s lead researcher David Hammond, an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo.

“The reality is Canadians are eating more and more outside the home and really don’t know anything about what they’re eating. . . . It’s difficult when you can have coffee products that either have 20 calories or up to 800 calories.”

While no jurisdiction in Canada has moved to label menus, a half-dozen U.S. states, including California and Oregon, as well as New York City, have passed legislation requiring restaurant chains to post calorie information on their menus. And the newly signed U.S. health-care bill contains national regulations that will require any restaurant with five or more locations to put the calorie content of their meals on menus.

With more than 60 per cent of Canadian adults and close to one-third of children overweight or obese, Hammond says it is critical to look at whether changes in our environment can help stem the obesity epidemic.

“We need to make it easier for Canadians to make healthier choices and this is one option,” says Hammond, noting the Canadian Cancer Society funded his work because of the growing link between obesity and cancer risk.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, healthy diets, being active and maintaining a healthy body weight may reduce the incidence of cancer by up to 35 per cent.

Right now, many fast-food chains in Canada voluntarily provide nutrition information for their menu items either on their company websites or in a brochure at the restaurant. Consumers have to make an effort to find out Tim Hortons’ BLT sandwich contains 420 calories, for example, or McDonald’s Caesar salad with crispy chicken has 670 calories.

Hammond’s study will investigate whether posting calorie information on menu boards at fast-food outlets on the University of Waterloo campus affect food choices of students and faculty.

The study will also determine what kind of menu labelling is most effective by providing 600 adults with four different kinds of menus featuring Tim Hortons fare.

Hammond says the two-year study, for which he received $276,000 from the Canadian Cancer Society, will help move the policy debate forward in Canada.

“We want to provide evidence to decision makers in Canada to help them determine whether or not this is a good thing to consider,” Hammond says. “And if they do want to do it, what is the most effective approach.”

U.S. studies have shown mixed results about whether menu labelling helps consumers make healthier choices. Hammond says there is evidence that women, people who already pay close attention to their diet, and those who are well-educated and of a higher socioeconomic background make use of the nutritional information.

However, he adds, since the policy has potential to reach millions of people a day, even a modest impact will translate into a huge benefit at the population level.

“There is some research showing that even if only one out of 10 people changes what they order and eat, and that change only amounts to about 100 calories a day, that is still millions of pounds in the population that won’t be added.”

Back to the sweat shop!

"mmmmm, OKAY... I have been going to the gym every day this week... I'm sore... but at least I'm putting the effort back in this battle of the bulge! TBC

OKAY.. I'M BACK

" A MOMENT ON THE LIPS ... FOREVER ON THE HIPS... "

Well... hello everyone... now that Easter and all the other distractions are behind me it's time to get back on the diet wagon. No I'm not going to be one of those 90% that gain it all back... although I'm confessing that I have gained a lot of weight in the last 8 months... I really want to try to lose it again. There are too many reminders around me of why I started this whole life style change/quest in the first place.

Yesterday I spent the day with my family. And in our many wonderful conversations, surrounded in gorging overabundance of food. The conversation came up about taking care of your body; a close friend and extended family member is undergoing Cancer treatment, and she really hit home with this comment.... " we really need to take care of our bodies, because when we get hit with a very serious disease, like Cancer, our bodies need to be strong and healthy enough to undergo Chemo, or other treatments to fight it! .. and believe me, we all will get sick at one point! "

A very serious and depressing realization.. that yes we all get old, and can get very sick.. if not Cancer, than may Heart problems or other things... aging sucks! that's all there is too it.. but to make it less a blow.... I really need to get healthier, and start back at exercising... it's the only way to age gracefully! as depressing as it sounds...

soooo... back on track... back to the gym... and besides I'm going to Europe this summer, and I need to get my walking legs back so I can participate in all sorts of wonderful sight-seeing...

stay tuned...

Mind Skills for Lasting Weight Loss

By The Weight Watchers Research Dept.

Print Email

Knowing what to do to lose weight and applying that knowledge to daily life are two very different things.

For many years, weight-loss programs have expanded education to include several techniques from the field of behavioural psychology. Examples include self-monitoring food intake, exercise and body weight; altering the environment to avoid problem foods, and goal setting.

CBT Techniques
More recently, behaviour modification methods have expanded to include techniques from the field of cognitive therapy. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, or CBT, involves the identification and modification of thinking patterns and negative mood states that can undermine lasting weight loss.¹

It is widely recognised that the development of behavioural and cognitive skills learned during weight loss is critical to successful maintenance. Indeed, lacking coping and problem-solving skills appear to be important factors in weight regain after a loss.² Black-and-white thinking, a cognitive style characterised by viewing actions as being good or bad and as right or wrong, is also a significant predictor of weight regain.³

People who have never been overweight as well as those who have successfully achieved a lasting weight loss share the characteristics of confronting problems directly (95% and 60%, respectively) and using personally developed strategies to help themselves. Those who have lost weight only to regain it are much more likely to eat unconsciously in response to emotions (70%) and not confront problems directly (10%).⁴

Role of Coping Skills
Successful weight-loss maintainers are less likely to be emotional eaters (using food to regulate their mood).⁵ They have developed coping skills to deal with stress as well as the skill of flexible restraint,⁶ which refers to a moderate level of control on eating. The development of coping skills is particularly helpful in dealing with food temptations and preventing the abandonment of weight-management efforts.⁷ Mental simulation, a cognitive skill that involves creating the process for reaching a goal or dealing with a stressful situation, has also been shown to produce positive results.⁸

view footnotes

The Weight Watchers Approach: Behaviour modification is one of the pillars of the Weight Watchers approach and includes traditional behaviour strategies like self-monitoring as well as a unique CBT approach called Weight Watchers Tools for Living.

RELATED INFORMATION

Other Science Library Topics:

• Are You Ready? Introduction to Behaviour Change
• Are You Ready? Behaviour Change and Weight Management

FOOTNOTES

¹Liao KL. Cognitive-behavioural approaches and weight management: an overview. J R Soc Health. 2000 Mar;120(1):27-30.

²Byrne SM. Psychological aspects of weight maintenance and relapse in obesity. J Psychosom Res. 2002 Nov;53(5):1029-36.

³Byrne SM, Cooper Z, Fairburn CG. Psychological predictors of weight regain in obesity. Behav Res Ther. 2004 Nov;42(11):1341-56.

⁴Kayman S, Bruvold W, Stern JS. Maintenance and relapse after weight loss in women: behavioural aspects. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990 Nov;52(5):800-7.

⁵Byrne S, Cooper Z, Fairburn C. Weight maintenance and relapse in obesity: a qualitative study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003 Aug;27(8):955-62.

⁶Westenhoefer J, von Falck B, Stellfeldt A, Fintelmann S. Behavioural correlates of successful weight reduction over 3 y. Results from the Lean Habits Study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 Feb;28(2):334-5.

⁷Carels RA, Douglass OM, Cacciapaglia HM, O'Brien WH. An ecological momentary assessment of relapse crises in dieting. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2004 Apr;72(2):341-8.

⁸Taylor SE, Pham LB, Rivkin ID, Armor DA. Harnessing the imagination. Mental simulation, self-regulation, and coping. Am Psychol. 1998 Apr;53(4):429-39.

WW Meetings Matter....

Meetings Matter

Print Email

After

Before Name Elizabeth Age 36 Height 5'0.5" Was 192 lbs Lost 35.4 lbs* Weight 156.6 lbs As of 28/07/2009 *Results Not Typical A funny thing happened when I decide to go back to meetings; the weight started coming off again!

A hiatus from meetings made Elizabeth painfully aware that they are the key to her success.

I work as an administrative assistant for a vascular surgeon. My sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition had contributed to some weight gain through the years. Because I am around doctors all day, I became concerned when I noticed that my feet and ankles were swelling. I had gone from a size 10 shoe to a 12 in no time. I asked one of the doctors in the office to take a quick look and was shocked when the doctor informed me that I had developed edema, a swelling caused by fluid in your body's tissues. The main cause of edema is eating a poor diet high in salt and carbohydrates.

Nutrition knowledge
The diagnosis was the wake-up call that I needed, and I started to change my eating habits, tackling weight loss on my own. I had a small amount of success, but became frustrated and decided I needed some additional support. I joined Weight Watchers meetings and started following the POINTS® Weight-Loss System. I immediately fell in love with the plan and all that I was learning. I quickly realised that I simply had lacked knowledge of proper nutrition. Suddenly I had resources and information about how to feed my body to keep it healthy.

As time went on, I decided that I would stop attending meetings and could continue on my own with the plan. Within a few weeks I realised that without the accountability and support of the meeting I was putting the weight back on. I got scared. I saw myself going right back to where I had started. As difficult as it was, I took myself back to meetings and the support and accountability I enjoyed there.

Return and lose
A funny thing happened when I decide to go back; the weight started coming off again! As I sat there the second time through, I realised something. During every meeting I received not only the tips and education I needed to lose the weight, but got well needed support from people who were going through exactly what I was. This isn’t a simple process and being around others who struggle along with you is inspiring.

I love the new me. I can finally buy clothing that I like in stores and have energy and confidence that I thought was gone for good. In meetings I learned skills that have helped me tackle cultural, emotional and physical challenges. I am active and healthy and there is no looking back for me now!

Elizabeth’s tips
Think about your goals. Attend meetings. Learn how to read nutrition labels. Exercise. Only you have the power to take charge of what goes in your body. Have the will power to say no. Dance while cleaning and when out at parties! It's good to keep yourself moving and music always helps! Remember you are never a failure. If mess up one day, the next day is a new beginning.

WW week 3

Week 3 - Weight Watchers.. going strong... lost another 10 pounds!

so 20 pounds in two weeks... if you are not a member of Weight Watchers ... what's stopping you?

It works!

nice that I hit this milestone again!

Drive -Thru Dieting

By TARA PARKER-POPE

Evan Sung for The New York TimesChicken Supreme Burrito from Taco Bell.

The words “weight loss” and “fast food” aren’t often used in the same sentence, but that may be changing soon. Taco Bell is promoting its new “Drive-Thru Diet” after a 27-year-old Pensacola, Fla., woman claimed to lose weight on a diet of fast-food tacos. And chains from Dunkin’ Donuts to Kentucky Fried Chicken are now touting lower-calorie fare.

But just how healthful can food served through a window really be? Is it possible to lose weight on a diet of mostly fast food? To hear the answers, read the latest Skin Deep column, “Forget Jenny Craig: Hit the Drive-Thru,” and then please join the discussion below.

What do you think of the lower-calorie foods offered by fast-food companies?

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