Do women have a choice about gaining weight as they get older?

If you're a woman in her 50's or approaching menopause, you DON'T HAVE TO GAIN WEIGHT!  Our metabolic rates DO slow down as we age, but all you have to do starting at around 50 is cut 200 calories from your diet from what you used to eat in your 30's or 40's.  Think about it - that's half a bagel!  Also, many women DO gain weight during menopause, but they also tend to get less active.  1) Stay active + 2) cut 200 calories = no weight gain.

Is chewing your food important for weight loss?

When you think of your eyes, you think 20/20.  When you think of your stomach, think 30/30.  That means chew 30 times which will help your stomach get the 30 minutes it needs to register fullness.  The opposite of chewing a lot is barely chewing at all and eating very quickly - and this is one of the warning signs for binge eating disorder - which is the most common eating disorder and affects just about as many men as women.  Obviously, binging is not healthy and it's definitely not good if you're trying to lose weight.

Is fast food really addictive?

When you consider that a glass of wine and the amount of fat in a cheeseburger release about the same amount of dopamine in the brain, you can understand why both alcohol and fatty food can be addictive, so yes. In studies, we see the same withdrawal symptoms in rats given fatty food all the time just like rats given cocaine, so yes - it is. Occasional exposure doesn’t cause addiction with fast food. Think of it like tequila. Having a shot once in awhile on a Friday night is fine for non-alcoholics, but if you had tequila with every meal, we have a problem.

Is diet soda bad for me?

One study showed 41 percent increase in risk of being overweight for every can of diet soda consumed every day! You can recalibrate your taste buds, so even if the diet soda has no calories, the hundreds-of-times-sweeter-than-sugar taste takes away your ability to appreciate the more subtle sweetness of things like whole fruit. And you may then need very sweet foods to get the same perception of sweetness.

What’s the best way for me to get my kids to eat vegetables?

Give kids and A and B choice. Say, “Do you want broccoli or carrots with your meal tonight?” First, choices are good. Studies show that we are more likely to rate something as appealing if we are given a little choice in the matter. Second, by not forcing something down their throat (like saying, “eat this broccoli, or you’re not leaving the table!”) you are creating a positive association around healthy foods - which will ultimately help them to favor them in the long run.

Are diet pills a good way to lose weight?

Stimulant-based diet pills are not shown to be clinically effective in the long-term, and sometimes, they can be dangerous. What does work is long-term behavioral modification, and some of the programs that have been around for a long time like Weight Watchers are actually the most effective. And when you see Jennifer Hudson these days, you can see it works! The combination of accountability and support do work.

What is a simple way to improve my exercise routine?

Think about creating new, balanced, and healthy rituals you can stick to. A Saturday afternoon spin class you take weekly with two friends will probably help you to make the change and stick to it. Remember, most people don’t keep their new year’s resolutions, but most people do brush their teeth every night before bed. So when a healthy behavior like that spin class with friends becomes a ritual - which takes about a month in the human brain - this will help you stick to it.

What’s the best way to talk to a loved one about his or her weight?

The best way to talk to your kids - or your spouse or friend - is to move from “you” language to “I” language. Saying, “maybe you shouldn’t eat that,” actually makes people struggling with weight feel judged and makes things worse. But saying, “I feel worried about your health. Is there anything I can do,” lets them know you’re going to be there & you’ll be supportive.

What’s the simplest thing I can do to lose weight?

Without changing anything about your diet, mindful eating will actually decrease the amount of calories. Follow this simple rule: Eat from a plate at a table, and studies show that that alone will significantly decrease how much you eat. Studies show Americans are less likely to pay attention to internal signs of hunger, so we don’t know when we’re full. Turning off the TV, not eating from packages, and not eating in the car is a simple way to force ourselves to pay attention to our bodies.

How often should I weigh myself?

Weighing yourself about once a week is the most effective. This helps you to immediately address any weight gain immediately without becoming obsessive. What happens when we don’t and we gain 5 lbs. in a month, for example, we feel hopeless. But if it’s a 1 lb gain over a week, that’s easy to tackle.