Live Free Nutrition

Isaac Weiner, HHC

Daily Updates

August 10

Introduction

Hello all! This week's newsletter contains a brief reminder about my upcoming series of weight–loss teleclasses, and some more observations on dieting garnered while my family and I were on a much–needed vacation last week. I'm also happy to announce some excellent updates that have been made to my website! The last few years of newsletters have been uploaded, so you can now access all of my published newsletters from 2006 to the present. In addition toviewing the newsletters chronologically, you can view a list of all my articles separately, and a list of all our recipes, without having to search through the newsletters for them. As described in the note below, you can also sign up for teleclasses online. There's even a new picture of me and my daughter Caroline. If you're new to this mailing list, take some time to browse the older newsletters for articles and recipes that speak to your individual health concerns.

I publish this newsletter as a part of my private practice as a Holistic Health Counselor, in which I help people get healthier and happier by guiding them through positive diet and lifestyle changes. I work with my clients either over the phone or in person in individual six–month programs. I also lead group workshops and group programs, and work with schools, businesses and other communities to improve their overall health and wellness. I also give free health history consultations. If you'd like to spend about an hour talking with me about your goals for your health and life, simply send me an email!

Weight Loss Teleclass Reminder

There's only one way to reach your proper weight and stay there for good: by adopting a diet and lifestyle that is both healthy and satisfying. Many people have short–term weight loss success with deprivation diets, but they later gain the weight back because such diets are not sustainable. Long term weight loss success requires a holistic approach that incorporates a whole–foods based diet, some moderate physical activity, and resolution of stress and other factors that influence our cravings. An approach like this is its own reward: you'll not only approach your natural weight, but also see your health improve in many other ways, and you'll be able to experience great pleasure, and rid yourself of guilt, in both cooking and eating.

Live Free Nutrition Teleclasses are a way for you to get the knowledge, counseling and guidance you need to start making these changes in a group setting and at a price that is affordable for today's economy. A teleclass is a workshop in conference call format in which members of the class call in over the phone to participate. During each segment, you'll get to hear a talk given by me on an aspect of weight loss, as well as ask questions, participate in group discussion, and receive some individual counseling. For further details, including pricing and schedule, check out the teleclass description on my website, or simply email me with any questions. Teleclasses, which take place on Sunday afternoons, start August 15th, so sign up soon! This is the lifelong weight–loss opportunity you don't want to miss.

Lose Weight Eating Chocolate. Ask Me How.

I saw these words on a bumper sticker of a car that I passed as our family was driving home from vacation, and they immediately caught my interest. My first instinct was to catch a glimpse of the driver in order to see how healthy he or she looked (answer: not terribly). After all, isn't it a rather dubious claim that one could eat chocolate in order to lose weight? But of course that's where the "ask me how" part comes in. Whatever issues we struggle with—health, finances, relationships—we're always on the lookout for an expert who can promise a solution that doesn't require us to change anything about ourselves. While chocolate can be part of a healthy and balanced diet, people who eat it to excess due to sugar cravings are likely to put on some pounds. What if there was a way to get one's "fix" without any consequences? It's in our nature to seek out purported solutions of this kind, but we know deep down that they don't really work. Resolving our problems involves making some tough choices. For this reason, there's another group of people that argues that we just need to toughen up. "You want to lose weight?" they say. "Stop eating so much!" In fact, we tend to be tough like this on people who struggle with things we find easy, while at the same time seeking out miracle cures for our own particular weaknesses.

The reality is that while solving problems does require meaningful change, it also requires practical strategies and support, not just toughness. Eating right, budgeting our finances, or successfully interacting with people are all skills that require practice and knowledgeable guidance to acquire. The good news is that when you're willing to commit to meaningful change, the battle is essentially already won. After you start eating better, you not only feel healthier and more energetic, but you enjoy your experience of eating more, and you actually find it difficult to go back to your old habits. It's not a matter of ongoing will power, but of initial willingness. One client of mine, for example, called me up to ask for a healthy alternative to caffeinated soda. He wanted to have the extra energy but without the negative effects on his health. I had to explain that there is no healthy form of a "quick fix"—that the only healthy thing to do was to give his body what it really needed. In this case, that meant extra rest, such as a short nap during the day. To his credit, he was willing to give it a try, and started substituting the real rest for the soda. After a week, he had more energy than before, without needing to sacrifice his health, and had lost the craving for caffeine.

Can you really lose weight eating chocolate? Of course, as long as it's just one part of a balanced diet of whole foods. But my emphasis on eating more whole foods is not a "toughen up" type of recommendation. If you are really eating healthy, not only will you love it, but any junk food that you used to crave will no longer have the same hold over you. All that's required is the willingness to take that first step towards real, positive change.

Forward to a Friend

It's such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by it. If you received this newsletter from someone else, but would like to be sure to receive it again, email me with your address and I will include you on my mailing list in the future.

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