[Muffie's Mom]

Question: Why do most of my friends say how bad everything is in their life and shoot all my attempts to improve myself down in flames?

Answer: Life is not a rehearsal and there is no such thing as a magic weight loss fairy (or magic pill for that matter) which will turn you into a slim person overnight. Instead of wishing you could be slimmer and full of energy, take a good look at just what you are eating and how much exercise you perform each week. To both lose and maintain weight we need to reduce our total fat grams eaten per day to around 20-24 grams, eat three balanced meals and two snacks every day and exercise four times per week. Remember, healthy people do it all the time!

Question: I’ve heard about “goal setting” but am a bit confused. How do you “goal set”?

Answer: The purpose of setting goals to achieve what we want in life. We need to focus our attention to achieve those goals. The mind will not reach toward achievement until it has been set clear objectives. Results begin when we set goals. Set easy to achieve short term goals, then set goals to be achieved in one year then five years, then set your ultimate long term goals. Remember, a goal not written down is only a wish.

Question: Do we really need 8-10 hours sleep each night?

Answer: Research shows that most people really only require six hours. This means that most of us have two hours extra each day to live life, learn, fit in exercise, spend with family before school or work. Added up over a year, that is 728 hours extra to achieve our goals.

Question: How can losing weight make me feel better?

Answer: The health benefits from even a small weight loss are extraordinary. Even a 10% reduction in overall body weight can see blood pressure come down, cholesterol levels come down and energy and self esteem levels go up. As we lose weight, there is less strain on backs, knees and ankles, reducing pain. Headaches become lessened, we sleep better and function more effectively in all areas of our lives.

Question: How can I exercise when it’s too cold to get out in the winter?

Answer: Try telling that to our Olympians who train in hail, rain, snow and sleet during the winter months! However, if you are really not up to exercising in those cold and dark early mornings or early evenings, hire an exercise tread mill for the winter months, join a gym or purchase an exercise video.

Question: Why do I feel such a sense of failure when I always put weight back on again after going on a diet?

Answer: Diets are doomed to failure each and every time! The only successful way to both lose weight and maintain weight is to establish lifelong healthy eating habits. When we take small daily steps and congratulate ourselves every day for even the smallest change towards achieving our weight loss goals, we begin to think like a winner. And the more we think like a winner, the more we begin to feel and look like a winner.

Question: Why are my thin friends so lucky?

Answer: There is no luck involved in being slim, healthy and full of energy! What is involved is healthy, low fat regular meals and snacks, and a sensible exercise routine. Most people really do have to work at keeping their weight where they want it to be. There is no luck involved. It’s all about getting out there and doing it, not wishing it would happen.

Question: I’ve thought about beginning so many diets in the past. Why can’t I never get around to it?

Answer: It does take a lot of courage to begin to make significant lifestyle changes. Most people with a weight problem do need to ask for help and this takes courage. In fact, sometimes taking that first step is the hardest part of making any change. Until you take that first step, you stand little chance of reaching your goal. Once you have made the decision to change, stick to your resolve and commit to changing your lifestyle for good health.

Question: I’d love to do all sorts of things in my life. Why is it that somehow I just don’t get there?

Answer: Stop procrastinating! Thinking about, or wishing about, becoming slimmer won’t help. Set your goals a bit higher than you feel you can achieve and always aim for super success. Wallowing in doom and gloom is not nearly as much fun as knowing you have won, and achieved everything in life you want to achieve.

Question: I really hope I’ll be slim and happy one day – will it happen?

Answer: This life is not a rehearsal – we are only given one shot at it. One shot to become the person we really want to be. One shot to eat well, get our weight down to where we want it to be. One shot to learn as much as we can. One shot to improve our lives and the lives of our family and loved ones. Don’t leave your life behind without knowing you gave it your best shot.

Question: I really hope I’ll be slim and happy one day – will it happen?

Answer: This life is not a rehearsal – we are only given one shot at it. One shot to become the person we really want to be. One shot to eat well, get our weight down to where we want it to be. One shot to learn as much as we can. One shot to improve our lives and the lives of our family and loved ones. Don’t leave your life behind without knowing you gave it your best shot.