#boisementalhealth 
Inspired by research and writings by prolific food-industry researchers like professor Robert Lustig, M.D., and journalist Michael Moss, Eve Schaub decided to try an experiment. She, along with her husband and daughters Greta and Ilsa, spent all of 2011 eating no added sugar.
They combed packaged foods for other names for sugar, including high fructose corn syrup, crystalline fructose, maple syrup, honey, molasses, evaporated cane juice, as well as artificial sweeteners. They started preparing more foods at home. Each family member was allowed one regular exception that contained a small amount of sugar -- Eve opted for a glass of red wine -- and once a month, the family would have an agreed-upon dessert.
We recently caught up with Eve to chat about the experience, as well as the upcoming memoir of that sugar-free year, Year of No Sugar, available April 8.
How did you come up with the idea to avoid sugar for a year?
My husband showed me a video of a pediatric endocrinologist talking about sugar and what it does in our body. It's much more pervasive in our food supply than we might suspect. I became completely captivated by this video. For several days after I couldn't stop thinking about it. Everywhere I went I saw sugar, and I started to question not only our food culture in America but me personally: What am I feeding my family?
I approached my husband and said I wanted us to try to eat for a year without any added sugar because I wanted to see how hard it would be, I wanted to know whether it's possible to do it and not be miserable. He was very supportive, to my surprise. The kids -- that was a whole other ballgame. Immediately, they started bawling. They knew this meant birthdays and Halloween and play dates and Christmas would all be different. As a mother, the last thing you want to do is make your kids cry! I assumed and hoped there would be lots of positive things that would come from it, but I knew this wasn't going to be an easy road.
How did the kids take to it?
That first day was probably the worst day we had. After that, things were never as bad as all that, although I can't say it was always easy. My younger daughter was 6 for most of the year, my other was 11. My younger daughter was amazingly flexible. At the beginning of the project she kept forgetting, and I'd remind her there was no dessert -- again -- and she'd go, "Oh, okay!" and run off and play. My older daughter was much more, "Oh, woe is me!" She's the actress of the family. I encouraged her to keep a journal because I knew there would be plenty of times she'd be mad at me and not want to talk to me about it. In the journal, she could get those emotions out. There are excerpts from her journal in the book. I asked her permission first. [Eventually], she loved the project. She said and wrote that it made us unique or special or interesting. I loved watching that transformation into this very aware kid.
What kind of physical changes did you notice after eliminating added sugar?
I always feel like I'm disappointing people when I say I didn't lose weight. None of us was looking or needing to. I have two young girls, so I was really mindful to stress how we felt, how things tasted. The last thing I wanted to do was focus on losing weight. We did notice other changes. Our palates changed overtime. Things that were sweet began to taste different to us and really repellent by the fall. Things that normally looked very appealing looked obscene and disgusting. We felt healthier, it seemed like we got sick less, like we got better faster or got milder colds. My kids missed significantly less school.
When the year was over, what stuck with you?
Friends and acquaintances said, "You're liberated, and now you're going to go nuts!" That didn't happen at all. When midnight came on New Year's Eve 2012, we all had a little something. I chose to have a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and it was my first piece of candy in a year. I was like, "Yep, that's good, going to bed!"
As time went on, I found it difficult because the rules were gone. Instead, it was like, what do we do now?! The first time I took the girls to the supermarket, I hadn't thought through what's going to be okay now. Now that a lot of time has passed, we've settled it all out. We're somewhere hovering in the middle, but we definitely have retained much more sensitive palates and a more subtle appreciation for sweetness. I went from somebody who would love a big decadent piece of cake to somebody who would much rather have a very subtle fruit sorbet. When we do choose to have dessert, it's small and it's very special. It's infrequent.
You shot a video [below] of some of the difficulties of grocery shopping during the year. What were some of the most surprising foods you discovered you couldn't eat during the year of no sugar?
I made my own mayonnaise, because at our supermarket I can't find mayonnaise that doesn't have sugar in it. I had to search far and wide to find bacon that didn't have sugar in it. I will buy mayo and bacon now, but I still don't buy bread. i bake my own bread as often as I possibly can, and when all else fails I will buy the one type I can buy [without added sugar]. I'm very stubborn on this issue. Same with tomato sauce -- you can find it at the store but you have to look.
Would you recommend that other people try living a year without added sugar?
I'd like people to read the book because I've kind of done it for them! They don't have to be as strict as we were. But I do recommend that people start to have a greater awareness of where sugar is -- and then they can make their own choices. Everybody gets to make their own dietary decisions, but what I think is not right is that this substance, which is not innocuous, is so pervasive in our food supply and we don't know it's there. There are many different aliases for sugar -- it's hard to be an informed consumer and know all of them. You don't have to go to the health food store or spend your whole paycheck, either. People worry it's too expensive, but not necessarily. I really wanted the book to be engaging and fun to read. I'm not a doctor, I'm not a nutritionist. I'm a mom who decided to go on an adventure.
This interview has been edited and condensed. As told to Sarah Klein.
#idahomentalhealth
from Anxiety Agoraphobia Bipolar Disorder Evaluations and Treatment in Boise, Treasure Valley, Idaho http://ift.tt/PRnPZI
Health and Fitness - The Huffington Post
19 Reasons To Get In Shape That Have Absolutely Nothing To Do With How You Look In A Bikini
It's April, so apparently it's time to talk swimsuits. In particular, bikinis and the bodies that wear them.
If it's not the ads trying to convince you to sign up for a gym membership, it's the magazine covers -- or maybe even the shirt your friend is wearing to the gym.
Photo from ActivateApparel.com
We're pretty fed up with the whole concept, and it barely even feels like spring. As our friends at HuffPost Women so perfectly put it:
But what does "bikini body" even mean? We happen to believe that if you're physically able to put on a bathing suit, you're bikini-ready.
Which is why we think it's perfectly acceptable to go ahead and stop listening to anyone (or anything) who tells you your body is anything other than bikini-ready.
We are, on the other hand, big fans of getting fit. Despite the bad messaging, it's not the act of working out that's to blame here. There are loads of good reasons to get in shape, no matter what season it is, or what items of clothing you may or may not be wearing. In fact, we found a slew of them, none of which has a single thing to do with how you look in a bikini.
With a regular exercise routine you'll...
1. Sleep better.
The 2013 annual Sleep In America poll from the National Sleep Foundation found that people who self-identify as regular, vigorous exercisers got better sleep than their sedentary peers. Of the vigorous exercisers, just 17 percent said they got fairly or very bad sleep, while nearly half of the non-exercisers reported the same.
2. Be more productive.
You might think that cutting back on your working hours to incorporate more time for fitness means you'll get less work done, but the opposite is likely true. Workers who dropped 2.5 hours from their weekly work schedule and participated in mandatory physical activity for a year rated their productivity, quantity of work and work-ability significantly higher in a 2011 study.
3. Keep your brain sharp.
In the short-term, exercise increases blood flow, including to the brain, which leaves you feeling more awake, alert, focused and productive. But with a regular fitness routine, you reap even bigger benefits, including warding off dementia and other cognitive decline that often comes with age. Regular exercise also fuels the birth of new brain cells in a section of the brain called the hippocampus, which is highly involved in learning and memory.
4. Lower your diabetes risk.
In a 2014 study, women who sweated it out for 150 minutes a week and performed 60 minutes a week of strength training exercises had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than the most inactive women in the study. Even walking counts: Earlier research found that people who walked just 3,500 steps a day (there are roughly 2,000 steps in a mile) had a lower risk of developing diabetes than the people who walked the least in the study, Reuters reported.
5. Live longer.
Regular exercise has been repeatedly linked with more birthdays. The best news is that even just 15 minutes a day can make a big difference -- up to three additional years! (More summers to wear that bikini!)
6. Lower your resting heart rate.
The more you exercise, the stronger you get -- but not only in ways you can see. As the heart becomes more efficient at pumping oxygen-rich blood around the body, your resting heart rate may drop. And that's a good thing, since higher resting heart rates may put you at risk for serious disease.
7. Have better sex.
Increased blood flow is at it again! A 2012 study from Emory University researchers found that men between the ages of 18 and 40 who exercised more "seemed to experience a protective benefit against erectile dysfunction," Wayland Hsiao, co-author of the study and assistant professor of urology at Emory School of Medicine said in a statement.
8. Ease restless legs syndrome.
Regular exercise seems to significantly limit the severity of symptoms of this disruptive sleep condition, according to a small 2006 study.
9. Protect your eyes.
In a 2011 paper, researchers linked higher physical activity levels with a decreased risk for glaucoma, which can result in vision loss and blindness. In the study, people who exercised moderately 15 years earlier showed a 25 percent lower risk of low ocular perfusion pressure, or OPP, an important glaucoma risk factor.
10. Have fewer migraine headaches.
Anyone familiar with migraine knows that relief can be hard to come by. But a small 2011 study found that regular exercise worked just as well as medication or relaxation therapy at stopping the debilitating headaches before they start.
11. Strengthen your bones.
Bones are actually made of living tissue -- like muscles -- that can be strengthened with use, i.e. exercise! Regular, weight-bearing activity has been shown to build up bone strength, which prevents some of the natural decline in bone health typically seen with aging. Just keep in mind that weight-bearing activities are best for building bone; low-impact exercises like swimming, biking or using the elliptical aren't as helpful as walking, jogging and strength training.
12. Get sick less.
You can thank your running shoes next time you're the only one at the office who doesn't catch that bug going around. Regular exercise seems to boost the immune system, meaning your sweat sessions result in fewer colds and bouts of the flu. Just don't overdo it: Too much exercise can wear down the body, making you extra-susceptible to germs.
13. Decrease your cancer risk.
Certain types of cancer seem to be significantly affected by regular physical activity. A CDC review of research found 14 studies that showed statistically significant decreases in colon cancer risk among people with physically-active occupations, and eight other studies that showed a similar association when looking at leisure-time or total physical activity. Some research suggests that teenage and early adulthood exercise may protect against breast cancer down the line, but the studies have shown inconsistent results, according to the CDC report.
14. Ease depression symptoms.
Exercise isn't a complete cure, but it can help ease some of the symptoms of mental illness. In people with diagnosed depression, the feel-good chemicals released when you get active might help to lift spirits and reduce anxiety. Among people with mild to moderate depression, exercise may work as well as some medications, according to a 2011 study.
15. Lower your blood pressure.
Just like resting heart rate eventually lowers in the extremely fit, blood pressure can also decrease as the heart grows more efficient at pumping blood. Exercise also stimulates the growth of new blood vessels. And the benefits of lower blood pressure are many, including reduced risk for heart disease and heart attack, stroke, vision or memory loss, erectile dysfunction and more, according to the American Heart Association.
16. Reduce your risk of stroke.
According to the National Stroke Association, up to 80 percent of strokes could have been prevented. Lowering blood pressure and losing excess weight can certainly help, but moving more makes a difference all of its own. In a 2013 study, inactivity was linked with a 20 percent increased risk of stroke. To reap the benefits, experts recommend a moderate-intensity workout at least five days a week.
17. Lessen the effects of a predisposition for obesity.
Our genetic makeup isn't always our destiny, at least to a certain extent. A handful of lifestyle factors -- like diet or how we handle stress -- can essentially turn certain genes on or off. Then, we can pass these altered gene expressions to our own offspring. If you've been dealt a genetic hand that includes a tendency toward obesity -- which can in turn lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some cancers and other adverse health effects -- exercise can help you keep things in check. A 2012 study conducted by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that a daily, hour-long brisk walk significantly reduced the expression of those obesity genes. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle -- characterized in the study by spending four hours a day watching TV -- increased the expression of those genes by 50 percent.
18. Prevent weight gain.
Genetic predisposition or not, weight gain is typically not on anyone's to-do list, and there's strong evidence that regular exercise keeps the extra pounds off. That's good news for a number of reasons that have nothing to do with how you look in a bikini: Excess weight can contribute to conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure, stroke and more, according to the CDC.
19. Feel pretty darn great.
Even without a clinical diagnosis, working out will lift your spirits. Whether or not you find the elusive runner's high or not, there's no denying the extra blood flow to the brain and the extra mood-boosting endorphins it produces. About 14 percent of people turn to exercise as a stress-reliever, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America -- and frankly, we wish a few more people would jump on that bandwagon.
Why do you work out? Let us know in the comments below!
If it's not the ads trying to convince you to sign up for a gym membership, it's the magazine covers -- or maybe even the shirt your friend is wearing to the gym.
Photo from ActivateApparel.com
We're pretty fed up with the whole concept, and it barely even feels like spring. As our friends at HuffPost Women so perfectly put it:
But what does "bikini body" even mean? We happen to believe that if you're physically able to put on a bathing suit, you're bikini-ready.
Which is why we think it's perfectly acceptable to go ahead and stop listening to anyone (or anything) who tells you your body is anything other than bikini-ready.
We are, on the other hand, big fans of getting fit. Despite the bad messaging, it's not the act of working out that's to blame here. There are loads of good reasons to get in shape, no matter what season it is, or what items of clothing you may or may not be wearing. In fact, we found a slew of them, none of which has a single thing to do with how you look in a bikini.
With a regular exercise routine you'll...
1. Sleep better.
The 2013 annual Sleep In America poll from the National Sleep Foundation found that people who self-identify as regular, vigorous exercisers got better sleep than their sedentary peers. Of the vigorous exercisers, just 17 percent said they got fairly or very bad sleep, while nearly half of the non-exercisers reported the same.
2. Be more productive.
You might think that cutting back on your working hours to incorporate more time for fitness means you'll get less work done, but the opposite is likely true. Workers who dropped 2.5 hours from their weekly work schedule and participated in mandatory physical activity for a year rated their productivity, quantity of work and work-ability significantly higher in a 2011 study.
3. Keep your brain sharp.
In the short-term, exercise increases blood flow, including to the brain, which leaves you feeling more awake, alert, focused and productive. But with a regular fitness routine, you reap even bigger benefits, including warding off dementia and other cognitive decline that often comes with age. Regular exercise also fuels the birth of new brain cells in a section of the brain called the hippocampus, which is highly involved in learning and memory.
4. Lower your diabetes risk.
In a 2014 study, women who sweated it out for 150 minutes a week and performed 60 minutes a week of strength training exercises had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than the most inactive women in the study. Even walking counts: Earlier research found that people who walked just 3,500 steps a day (there are roughly 2,000 steps in a mile) had a lower risk of developing diabetes than the people who walked the least in the study, Reuters reported.
5. Live longer.
Regular exercise has been repeatedly linked with more birthdays. The best news is that even just 15 minutes a day can make a big difference -- up to three additional years! (More summers to wear that bikini!)
6. Lower your resting heart rate.
The more you exercise, the stronger you get -- but not only in ways you can see. As the heart becomes more efficient at pumping oxygen-rich blood around the body, your resting heart rate may drop. And that's a good thing, since higher resting heart rates may put you at risk for serious disease.
7. Have better sex.
Increased blood flow is at it again! A 2012 study from Emory University researchers found that men between the ages of 18 and 40 who exercised more "seemed to experience a protective benefit against erectile dysfunction," Wayland Hsiao, co-author of the study and assistant professor of urology at Emory School of Medicine said in a statement.
8. Ease restless legs syndrome.
Regular exercise seems to significantly limit the severity of symptoms of this disruptive sleep condition, according to a small 2006 study.
9. Protect your eyes.
In a 2011 paper, researchers linked higher physical activity levels with a decreased risk for glaucoma, which can result in vision loss and blindness. In the study, people who exercised moderately 15 years earlier showed a 25 percent lower risk of low ocular perfusion pressure, or OPP, an important glaucoma risk factor.
10. Have fewer migraine headaches.
Anyone familiar with migraine knows that relief can be hard to come by. But a small 2011 study found that regular exercise worked just as well as medication or relaxation therapy at stopping the debilitating headaches before they start.
11. Strengthen your bones.
Bones are actually made of living tissue -- like muscles -- that can be strengthened with use, i.e. exercise! Regular, weight-bearing activity has been shown to build up bone strength, which prevents some of the natural decline in bone health typically seen with aging. Just keep in mind that weight-bearing activities are best for building bone; low-impact exercises like swimming, biking or using the elliptical aren't as helpful as walking, jogging and strength training.
12. Get sick less.
You can thank your running shoes next time you're the only one at the office who doesn't catch that bug going around. Regular exercise seems to boost the immune system, meaning your sweat sessions result in fewer colds and bouts of the flu. Just don't overdo it: Too much exercise can wear down the body, making you extra-susceptible to germs.
13. Decrease your cancer risk.
Certain types of cancer seem to be significantly affected by regular physical activity. A CDC review of research found 14 studies that showed statistically significant decreases in colon cancer risk among people with physically-active occupations, and eight other studies that showed a similar association when looking at leisure-time or total physical activity. Some research suggests that teenage and early adulthood exercise may protect against breast cancer down the line, but the studies have shown inconsistent results, according to the CDC report.
14. Ease depression symptoms.
Exercise isn't a complete cure, but it can help ease some of the symptoms of mental illness. In people with diagnosed depression, the feel-good chemicals released when you get active might help to lift spirits and reduce anxiety. Among people with mild to moderate depression, exercise may work as well as some medications, according to a 2011 study.
15. Lower your blood pressure.
Just like resting heart rate eventually lowers in the extremely fit, blood pressure can also decrease as the heart grows more efficient at pumping blood. Exercise also stimulates the growth of new blood vessels. And the benefits of lower blood pressure are many, including reduced risk for heart disease and heart attack, stroke, vision or memory loss, erectile dysfunction and more, according to the American Heart Association.
16. Reduce your risk of stroke.
According to the National Stroke Association, up to 80 percent of strokes could have been prevented. Lowering blood pressure and losing excess weight can certainly help, but moving more makes a difference all of its own. In a 2013 study, inactivity was linked with a 20 percent increased risk of stroke. To reap the benefits, experts recommend a moderate-intensity workout at least five days a week.
17. Lessen the effects of a predisposition for obesity.
Our genetic makeup isn't always our destiny, at least to a certain extent. A handful of lifestyle factors -- like diet or how we handle stress -- can essentially turn certain genes on or off. Then, we can pass these altered gene expressions to our own offspring. If you've been dealt a genetic hand that includes a tendency toward obesity -- which can in turn lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some cancers and other adverse health effects -- exercise can help you keep things in check. A 2012 study conducted by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that a daily, hour-long brisk walk significantly reduced the expression of those obesity genes. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle -- characterized in the study by spending four hours a day watching TV -- increased the expression of those genes by 50 percent.
18. Prevent weight gain.
Genetic predisposition or not, weight gain is typically not on anyone's to-do list, and there's strong evidence that regular exercise keeps the extra pounds off. That's good news for a number of reasons that have nothing to do with how you look in a bikini: Excess weight can contribute to conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure, stroke and more, according to the CDC.
19. Feel pretty darn great.
Even without a clinical diagnosis, working out will lift your spirits. Whether or not you find the elusive runner's high or not, there's no denying the extra blood flow to the brain and the extra mood-boosting endorphins it produces. About 14 percent of people turn to exercise as a stress-reliever, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America -- and frankly, we wish a few more people would jump on that bandwagon.
Why do you work out? Let us know in the comments below!
'Year Of No Sugar': The Schaub Family Went Sugar Free For An Entire Year
Inspired by research and writings by prolific food-industry researchers like professor Robert Lustig, M.D., and journalist Michael Moss, Eve Schaub decided to try an experiment. She, along with her husband and daughters Greta and Ilsa, spent all of 2011 eating no added sugar.
They combed packaged foods for other names for sugar, including high fructose corn syrup, crystalline fructose, maple syrup, honey, molasses, evaporated cane juice, as well as artificial sweeteners. They started preparing more foods at home. Each family member was allowed one regular exception that contained a small amount of sugar -- Eve opted for a glass of red wine -- and once a month, the family would have an agreed-upon dessert.
We recently caught up with Eve to chat about the experience, as well as the upcoming memoir of that sugar-free year, Year of No Sugar, available April 8.
How did you come up with the idea to avoid sugar for a year?
My husband showed me a video of a pediatric endocrinologist talking about sugar and what it does in our body. It's much more pervasive in our food supply than we might suspect. I became completely captivated by this video. For several days after I couldn't stop thinking about it. Everywhere I went I saw sugar, and I started to question not only our food culture in America but me personally: What am I feeding my family?
I approached my husband and said I wanted us to try to eat for a year without any added sugar because I wanted to see how hard it would be, I wanted to know whether it's possible to do it and not be miserable. He was very supportive, to my surprise. The kids -- that was a whole other ballgame. Immediately, they started bawling. They knew this meant birthdays and Halloween and play dates and Christmas would all be different. As a mother, the last thing you want to do is make your kids cry! I assumed and hoped there would be lots of positive things that would come from it, but I knew this wasn't going to be an easy road.
How did the kids take to it?
That first day was probably the worst day we had. After that, things were never as bad as all that, although I can't say it was always easy. My younger daughter was 6 for most of the year, my other was 11. My younger daughter was amazingly flexible. At the beginning of the project she kept forgetting, and I'd remind her there was no dessert -- again -- and she'd go, "Oh, okay!" and run off and play. My older daughter was much more, "Oh, woe is me!" She's the actress of the family. I encouraged her to keep a journal because I knew there would be plenty of times she'd be mad at me and not want to talk to me about it. In the journal, she could get those emotions out. There are excerpts from her journal in the book. I asked her permission first. [Eventually], she loved the project. She said and wrote that it made us unique or special or interesting. I loved watching that transformation into this very aware kid.
What kind of physical changes did you notice after eliminating added sugar?
I always feel like I'm disappointing people when I say I didn't lose weight. None of us was looking or needing to. I have two young girls, so I was really mindful to stress how we felt, how things tasted. The last thing I wanted to do was focus on losing weight. We did notice other changes. Our palates changed overtime. Things that were sweet began to taste different to us and really repellent by the fall. Things that normally looked very appealing looked obscene and disgusting. We felt healthier, it seemed like we got sick less, like we got better faster or got milder colds. My kids missed significantly less school.
When the year was over, what stuck with you?
Friends and acquaintances said, "You're liberated, and now you're going to go nuts!" That didn't happen at all. When midnight came on New Year's Eve 2012, we all had a little something. I chose to have a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and it was my first piece of candy in a year. I was like, "Yep, that's good, going to bed!"
As time went on, I found it difficult because the rules were gone. Instead, it was like, what do we do now?! The first time I took the girls to the supermarket, I hadn't thought through what's going to be okay now. Now that a lot of time has passed, we've settled it all out. We're somewhere hovering in the middle, but we definitely have retained much more sensitive palates and a more subtle appreciation for sweetness. I went from somebody who would love a big decadent piece of cake to somebody who would much rather have a very subtle fruit sorbet. When we do choose to have dessert, it's small and it's very special. It's infrequent.
You shot a video [below] of some of the difficulties of grocery shopping during the year. What were some of the most surprising foods you discovered you couldn't eat during the year of no sugar?
I made my own mayonnaise, because at our supermarket I can't find mayonnaise that doesn't have sugar in it. I had to search far and wide to find bacon that didn't have sugar in it. I will buy mayo and bacon now, but I still don't buy bread. i bake my own bread as often as I possibly can, and when all else fails I will buy the one type I can buy [without added sugar]. I'm very stubborn on this issue. Same with tomato sauce -- you can find it at the store but you have to look.
Would you recommend that other people try living a year without added sugar?
I'd like people to read the book because I've kind of done it for them! They don't have to be as strict as we were. But I do recommend that people start to have a greater awareness of where sugar is -- and then they can make their own choices. Everybody gets to make their own dietary decisions, but what I think is not right is that this substance, which is not innocuous, is so pervasive in our food supply and we don't know it's there. There are many different aliases for sugar -- it's hard to be an informed consumer and know all of them. You don't have to go to the health food store or spend your whole paycheck, either. People worry it's too expensive, but not necessarily. I really wanted the book to be engaging and fun to read. I'm not a doctor, I'm not a nutritionist. I'm a mom who decided to go on an adventure.
This interview has been edited and condensed. As told to Sarah Klein.
Teena Henson Set Small Goals And Eventually Lost Half Her Bodyweight
Got a success story of your own? Send it to us at success.stories@huffingtonpost.com and you could be featured in our I Lost Weight series!
Name: Teena Henson
Age: 54
Height: 5'4"
Before Weight: 332 pounds
How I Gained It: I drank six to eight sodas a day, if not more. I made unhealthy food choices that I can sum up in two words: fast food.
Breaking Point: In 2011, I heard a commercial on the radio for Anytime Fitness. I said, "God, I wish you would put one of those in Gilmer [Texas]." Two weeks later, in the local paper, an ad appeared that an Anytime Fitness would be opening in my hometown! It was in my hands now. I had to ask myself, "What are you going to do with it?"
How I Lost It: I walked into the gym on March 8, 2011 and never looked back. I did this with old-fashioned grit and determination. No diets, no magic pills, no surgeries, just exercise and eating with common sense and balance. I learned along my way to set a lot of small goals.
Now, I work out six to seven days a week. If my family or friends can't find me, they know to check the gym. The cost of a gym membership is no excuse; what price do you put on your life? I used my income tax refund to first join, and it is by far the best investment I have ever made.
I also modified how I eat. I cut out sodas and sweeteners, substituted turkey for beef. I make small changes to my favorite recipes. Small changes in how and what you eat will garner big changes in your body. If I want a piece of cake or candy, then I eat it, I just don't overdo it. To deprive yourself of something just makes you want it more, and then you wind up over-indulging. I never went on a diet. That one tiny little word sets you up for defeat. It is a lifestyle change. Everyone wants to know the secret. Here it is: There isn't one. You have to find what works for you.
It is so exciting to be able to do things as simple as cleaning the house without having to sit down every 15 minutes or as cool as walking a 5K. I can go places with friends and family because I no longer feel like a giant embarrassment to them or myself. I can look people in the eye when I talk instead of wanting to crawl in a hole so the world wouldn't see me. Reaching this point in my life is the greatest feeling, and if just one person who reads this can find anything that can help them start their journey, then that just adds to my joy of deciding to save my own life.
After Weight: 166 pounds
The Huffington Post publishes photographs as they are submitted to us by our readers.
Check out more of our inspiring weight loss stories below:
Name: Teena Henson
Age: 54
Height: 5'4"
Before Weight: 332 pounds
How I Gained It: I drank six to eight sodas a day, if not more. I made unhealthy food choices that I can sum up in two words: fast food.
Breaking Point: In 2011, I heard a commercial on the radio for Anytime Fitness. I said, "God, I wish you would put one of those in Gilmer [Texas]." Two weeks later, in the local paper, an ad appeared that an Anytime Fitness would be opening in my hometown! It was in my hands now. I had to ask myself, "What are you going to do with it?"
How I Lost It: I walked into the gym on March 8, 2011 and never looked back. I did this with old-fashioned grit and determination. No diets, no magic pills, no surgeries, just exercise and eating with common sense and balance. I learned along my way to set a lot of small goals.
Now, I work out six to seven days a week. If my family or friends can't find me, they know to check the gym. The cost of a gym membership is no excuse; what price do you put on your life? I used my income tax refund to first join, and it is by far the best investment I have ever made.
I also modified how I eat. I cut out sodas and sweeteners, substituted turkey for beef. I make small changes to my favorite recipes. Small changes in how and what you eat will garner big changes in your body. If I want a piece of cake or candy, then I eat it, I just don't overdo it. To deprive yourself of something just makes you want it more, and then you wind up over-indulging. I never went on a diet. That one tiny little word sets you up for defeat. It is a lifestyle change. Everyone wants to know the secret. Here it is: There isn't one. You have to find what works for you.
It is so exciting to be able to do things as simple as cleaning the house without having to sit down every 15 minutes or as cool as walking a 5K. I can go places with friends and family because I no longer feel like a giant embarrassment to them or myself. I can look people in the eye when I talk instead of wanting to crawl in a hole so the world wouldn't see me. Reaching this point in my life is the greatest feeling, and if just one person who reads this can find anything that can help them start their journey, then that just adds to my joy of deciding to save my own life.
After Weight: 166 pounds
The Huffington Post publishes photographs as they are submitted to us by our readers.
Check out more of our inspiring weight loss stories below:
9 Ways to Tell You're on the Wrong Diet
Every spring, another round of diets sprout up. Some are solid plans with sound diet advice, and others, not so much. Want to spot the ones you should skip? Here are nine tips to help you do so:
You're on the wrong diet if it...
1. Cuts out entire food groups. Each major food group provides an assortment of extremely important nutrients. Together, as part of a varied diet, these food groups work together to create an intricate balance of nutrients that your body needs to function at its peak performance. Cut out an entire group (e.g., no grains, no fruit, etc.) and you're likely cutting out vital nutrients. Of course, if you're lactose intolerant (you need to avoid dairy) or have celiac disease or gluten intolerance (you need to eliminate gluten found in wheat, rye, barley, and some oats), you'll need to make up for those nutrients in other places, such as plant sources of calcium or fortified dairy alternatives and gluten-free whole grains.
2. Makes you feel like you're not good enough unless you lose weight. Who you are as a person has nothing to do with a number on the scale. You are absolutely good enough as-is. That's the point. You deserve to feel your best. Self-love and feeling good, so you can enjoy life to the fullest, should be the motivations for making healthy changes presented by a diet.
3. Is stressing your social life too much: If you're continuously stressed out because of the rigidity of your diet, then it might be time to look elsewhere. For example, if you cancel dinner with your friends on more than one occasion because you're supposed to only drink a smoothie for dinner. While adopting a healthier lifestyle can mean some social discomfort at first, your diet shouldn't make you feel isolated or helpless. The most sustainable diet is the one that makes you feel empowered in any setting.
4. Doesn't offer flexibility for travel, dining out, etc. A meal plan can be a truly valuable tool in not only teaching you what to eat but also illustrating how much to eat. However, a plan without tools that teach you how to translate that same eating style into your order at a restaurant or options at an airport doesn't help much unless you're planning on staying home for the rest of your life (see number three).
5. Focuses on a temporary diet plan and not habit changes. Sure, you can do anything for a week! And jumpstart weeks where you follow a stricter diet can be motivating. But healthy eating needs to be a daily endeavor in order to have an ongoing positive impact. And in order to sustain healthy eating, those choices need to become habits. Expect it to take at least 30 days for a consistent choice to become a habit.
6. Expects you to buy pricey supplements. A healthy, balanced diet can provide all of the nutrients you need to support your body's many amazing functions each day. If you do consider taking a supplement, it should be a conversation you have with your healthcare team. The bottom line on weight loss supplements is that the research is iffy, at best, for many of them, the supplement industry is loosely regulated, and in many cases they are unnecessary, ineffective, and even harmful.
7. Claims that one food or beverage will create weight loss on its own. There is no single food or drink that will create weight loss. Losing weight is a matter of assessing your portion choices, eating foods that help you feel satisfied for fewer calories, healing your relationship with eating and your body, being active, and setting your life up to maintain these ongoing choices. No food burns calories in an amount significant enough to matter to your weight. No food cancels out the other foods you're eating. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
8. Doesn't give you energy to exercise... and you're moody. Any diet that is so meager with its food offerings that you feel lethargic is not healthful eating. Eating healthfully means eating in a way that supports daily activity. And getting the hangries (hungry + angry) usually means you've gone too long without eating (or aren't eating enough).
9. Promises you'll lose more than two pounds per week. If you're doing consistent weight training and eating healthfully, you can lose up to 2 pounds each week and ensure that the majority of that weight is fat. Losing more than two pounds each week typically indicates losing muscle and water weight that will quickly be gained back.
For more by Stephanie Clarke, MS, RD, click here.
For more by Willow Jarosh, MS, RD, click here.
You're on the wrong diet if it...
1. Cuts out entire food groups. Each major food group provides an assortment of extremely important nutrients. Together, as part of a varied diet, these food groups work together to create an intricate balance of nutrients that your body needs to function at its peak performance. Cut out an entire group (e.g., no grains, no fruit, etc.) and you're likely cutting out vital nutrients. Of course, if you're lactose intolerant (you need to avoid dairy) or have celiac disease or gluten intolerance (you need to eliminate gluten found in wheat, rye, barley, and some oats), you'll need to make up for those nutrients in other places, such as plant sources of calcium or fortified dairy alternatives and gluten-free whole grains.
2. Makes you feel like you're not good enough unless you lose weight. Who you are as a person has nothing to do with a number on the scale. You are absolutely good enough as-is. That's the point. You deserve to feel your best. Self-love and feeling good, so you can enjoy life to the fullest, should be the motivations for making healthy changes presented by a diet.
3. Is stressing your social life too much: If you're continuously stressed out because of the rigidity of your diet, then it might be time to look elsewhere. For example, if you cancel dinner with your friends on more than one occasion because you're supposed to only drink a smoothie for dinner. While adopting a healthier lifestyle can mean some social discomfort at first, your diet shouldn't make you feel isolated or helpless. The most sustainable diet is the one that makes you feel empowered in any setting.
4. Doesn't offer flexibility for travel, dining out, etc. A meal plan can be a truly valuable tool in not only teaching you what to eat but also illustrating how much to eat. However, a plan without tools that teach you how to translate that same eating style into your order at a restaurant or options at an airport doesn't help much unless you're planning on staying home for the rest of your life (see number three).
5. Focuses on a temporary diet plan and not habit changes. Sure, you can do anything for a week! And jumpstart weeks where you follow a stricter diet can be motivating. But healthy eating needs to be a daily endeavor in order to have an ongoing positive impact. And in order to sustain healthy eating, those choices need to become habits. Expect it to take at least 30 days for a consistent choice to become a habit.
6. Expects you to buy pricey supplements. A healthy, balanced diet can provide all of the nutrients you need to support your body's many amazing functions each day. If you do consider taking a supplement, it should be a conversation you have with your healthcare team. The bottom line on weight loss supplements is that the research is iffy, at best, for many of them, the supplement industry is loosely regulated, and in many cases they are unnecessary, ineffective, and even harmful.
7. Claims that one food or beverage will create weight loss on its own. There is no single food or drink that will create weight loss. Losing weight is a matter of assessing your portion choices, eating foods that help you feel satisfied for fewer calories, healing your relationship with eating and your body, being active, and setting your life up to maintain these ongoing choices. No food burns calories in an amount significant enough to matter to your weight. No food cancels out the other foods you're eating. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
8. Doesn't give you energy to exercise... and you're moody. Any diet that is so meager with its food offerings that you feel lethargic is not healthful eating. Eating healthfully means eating in a way that supports daily activity. And getting the hangries (hungry + angry) usually means you've gone too long without eating (or aren't eating enough).
9. Promises you'll lose more than two pounds per week. If you're doing consistent weight training and eating healthfully, you can lose up to 2 pounds each week and ensure that the majority of that weight is fat. Losing more than two pounds each week typically indicates losing muscle and water weight that will quickly be gained back.
For more by Stephanie Clarke, MS, RD, click here.
For more by Willow Jarosh, MS, RD, click here.
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