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5 “Easy” Way to Curb Your Sweet Tooth and Stop Snacking

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You know you’re supposed to have a break from eating, right? There’s supposed to be a time during the day when you’re not actually shoving food in your face. You’re not supposed to graze all day, you aren’t a cow. And, if I hear one more person tell me that grazing all day is good for them, I’ll probably smack them. I hope it’s not you. It doesn’t matter if it’s “healthy” snacks and meals, your body needs time to digest what you have already eaten, so give it a chance. Stop the grazing and snacking craze. It’s so 1990’s.

I want to set some very clear guidelines for you when it comes to how often you should be eating. Crystal clear. You should be eating every 2-4 hours. That means there should be a 2-hour space, minimum, and no more than 4 hours between your meals and snacks. That means there are two-hour blocks every day when you’re not putting food in your mouth. TWO HOURS. It’s time to stop snacking and mindlessly eating because it adds up.

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If you’re a constant grazer, having a 2-hour span of time when you’re not eating may be hard at first, but it won’t take long for your body to adjust. However, the power and habit of food are extremely strong, so here are 5 ways to help stop snacking yourself silly:

#1 – Pre-plan for snacking

Until you’re in the habit of taking the 2-hour break from eating, planning is going to be your best strategy. Sit down at the beginning of your week and plan all of your meals and snacks. Yes, this takes time and the first few weeks you may not know what you’re doing, but start with a timing plan. Decide what time you’ll be eating and decide what time your meals and snacks will be. Usually, the cycle is meal, snack, meal, snack, meal, BED.

#2 – Drink water & Herbal Tea

A lot of times people eat for a number of reasons: they’re bored, they’re angry, they’re sad, etc. But, one of the most common reasons people are “hungry” all the time is because they’re dehydrated. They’re thirsty, not hungry. So be sure to carry your water bottle with you and actually drink from it. Carrying it around with you does no good. If you find plain water to be unpalatable, throw some fresh fruit in there to give it a little kick.

You can also try herbal teas. These are particularly useful when you have a sweet tooth. There are A LOT of delicious teas out there that contain no sugar but help curb your sweet tooth. Personally, I like Steeped Tea and the one to curb my sweet tooth is called “Cinnamon Hearts”.

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#3 – Distract yourself – Go workout

I always find it funny how thinking about food can be a major part of our day, especially when we’re trying to change the particularly “bad” habit of eating all day. During the hours when you’re not supposed to be eating, you’ll be thinking about your next snack or meal and counting down the minutes have until you “get” to eat again.

Try to break that cycle. If you find yourself drifting towards daydreaming about your next snack, or you keep going to the fridge or lunch bag to stare at it, it’s time to distract yourself. And, the easiest way to do that is to exercise. If you don’t have time to go for a workout, find a way to do a 5-minute blast. You can try our 5-minute Flicker. Once you’re done, settle back into work or whatever you were doing and focus on that.

Even better? Get 30 minutes in! Exercise can curb your appetite. And, all the water you’re drinking during your workout also helps to curb your urge to nosh – yay added bonus!

#4 – Misery loves company

Make this change with someone and have an accountability partner. Reach out to your partner when you’re about to say “I’m starving, screw this…”. There’s something wonderful about receiving a text from a friend that says “NO…don’t you dare”. There’s solidarity in misery. Not that taking breaks from eating is a misery, but for some, it’s really hard.

And, if you’re trying to eat fewer sweets, having someone text you to “put the damn cookie down RIGHT NOW” will not only make you laugh but will help you refocus. If you’ve never had an accountability partner before, try it. It really does help. Not used to leaning on someone? Get over it. What you’ve been doing in the past hasn’t worked, so why not try something new? Hmmmm? Riddle me that.

#5 – Go to bed

Okay, if it’s the middle of the day, this isn’t my best advice. But, for my late-night snackers, this is the best advice I ever received when I changed my eating habits. If you know that at 9pm you go off the rails, just go to bed. It’s that easy. Walk past the fridge, blow it a kiss and go to bed. 8pm? Great. Go to bed. I’m not kidding about this one, this is the best advice I can ever give you. Not only will you get more sleep, you’ll stop that calorie-filled late night snacking.

During the day, you can’t go to bed. Unless you’re a shift worker, then yes, go to bed. But for everyone else who cannot go to bed when the snack monster invades your mind, try simple deep breathing exercise. Breathe in for 5 seconds, hold your breath for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds. Repeat for at least 3 minutes. It helps. Once you’re done with your breathing exercise, get back to work, or parenting, or whatever. Clear your mind of the snack monster and refocus (see #3)

Alright, party people. It’s time to commit to a new way of eating. Can you do it? OF COURSE YOU CAN! I highly recommend you keep a food journal, it’s eye opening and can help keep you on track and accountable.

Good luck out there! You can do it! Start fueling your body with food. Food is there to help you function and live, not for convenience and emotion-smothering. More on that another time…

Off you go!

Use Your Weight Gain for Good, Not Evil

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Honestly, I could really do without all the guilt around gaining weight. I could rip-it-to-pieces-crumple-it-up-stomp-on-it-burn-it-and-blow-the-ashes-into-a-sewer-do without all the guilt around gaining weight. The shame, the embarrassment, the self-loathing. I can do without all of it. Especially when I hear it come from strong, sensible, wonderful, empowered women.

Why do we do that? We gain weight and all of a sudden we hate ourselves, our bodies, our place in this world. We slouch down, cover our bodies, turn our heads and cry. Why? Because it feels awful and we’re embarrassed. And that’s the part that’s bugging me.

It’s not the uncomfortable part of gaining weight that’s bugging me. OF COURSE we feel uncomfortable!  We know what it’s like to feel good, to be healthy, to fit into clothes. We know how it feels when someone says “HOLY S**T…you look fabulous!”. I mean, that just feels nice. We stand a little taller, walk a little proud. We’re simply more confident.

And no, I’m not talking about being or getting “skinny”. I detest that word, as many do (stay tuned for a new campaign in January). But, it just feeeeels good to be healthy. Clothes fit. Skin glows. Energy is high. We sleep better. We’re lighter…physically, mentally, emotionally. All because we’re healthy.

And being the opposite of that…well…it feeeeels bad. I get it. Trust me, I do. You eat terrible food and feed your body poorly. You don’t move your body like you should. Your jeans and shirts are too tight so you live in leggings and tunics. You avoid seeing people you haven’t seen for awhile because you know when you leave they’re going to say “holy smokes, she’s really gained weight”.

Trust me. I know. I’m 10lbs heavier right now than I like to be. And while my gain has a lot to do with medical issues I’m having, nobody wants to hear about that and I certainly don’t want to get into it. So, I shirk back, hate getting my picture taken and shame myself to my good friends and my mind all day long.

Well…I used to. But, over the past few weeks I’ve had so many women confide in me about their embarrassment over gaining weight. They ask how I don’t berate myself over the weight gain that I’m so open about and how do I push through? The answer: well, I do. I do berate myself. I talk down to myself. I pinch my belly fat, shudder and call myself “Fattie”.

But I’m done with that crap. I realize I push through and get back to healthy for one simple reason: I love being healthy. The thing about gaining weight is that it puts you in a place to reflect on how good being healthy feels, particularly coming from a time when you’re really not feeling healthy at all. I’m using my knowledge of what it’s like to feel healthy and fit to motivate me. I’m letting it be the driving force to help me get back to feeling amazing. You can do it too.

Weight gain can be a major trigger for a slide into depression…so…this is when you need to start reflecting on what it feels like to be healthy. I’m serious. Do this exercise right now:

  1. Take out a pen and paper.
  2. Think about how you feel right now.
  3. Write 10 sentences about how you feel about your health and your body right now; the more raw and real you can get here, the better. Don’t soften it. Be tough and be honest with yourself. I know you have a “weight-gain-berating-reel-of-crap” you say to yourself. Write down the words you say to yourself in the anger and quietness of your mind. Write the words you would be appalled to say out loud if someone else was listening. Pen to paper, write those words down. Every single ugly word.
  4. Read those 10 sentences once, all together.
  5. Have a little cry, it’s okay. This is hard. Now…get mad.
  6. Cross those sentences out and promise yourself for the next 4 weeks you’re not going to say those sentences again.
  7. Now, reflect back on a time when you felt healthy & strong.
  8. If you don’t have a time in your life when you’ve felt healthy & strong, visualize what you think it’ll feel like.
  9. Write down 10 sentences about how you feel when you feel healthy and strong. Strong words. Powerful words. Motivating words. Words of love and confidence. Find those words and write them all down.
  10. Read them. Read them at least three times. Highlight them. Star them. Put hearts around them. Love yourself.
  11. Put them somewhere you can read them (at your bedside table, on your fridge, in your workout bag, wherever).
  12. Now…get to work.

Sure, you can dwell on your weight gain. You can crucify yourself and berate yourself until the cows come home (that’s a long time, cows are lazy). You can make yourself feel like the worst person in the history of people (I highly recommend you don’t do this). You can trudge through your own misery and self-dislike (I won’t use the word hatred, but I know some of you are there), or…

OR…you can get to work. You can come at it from a place of acceptance and love. Come at it from a place of getting you back to feeling healthy and strong. Gaining weight…it happens to the majority of us. Sometimes it’s medical and sometimes it’s laziness. Sometimes it’s just about lettin’ the good times roll. Sometimes it’s the fact that life has gotten in the way and you’ve forgotten how important you are. I won’t accept that it’s a lack of time. I draw a very thick, bold line there.

Turn your weight gain into a positive. It’s tough, but you can. Reflect on how you feel right now and move forward. Remember the power you used to have when you were fit and healthy. Remember the confidence. Remember the pride. That’s how it feels to be healthy and strong.

Gaining weight happens. Oh yes it does, but how you come out of it and get back to healthy is up to you. I highly recommend proper nutrition and exercise. No shakes, diets, pills, wraps, no magic. Just you, your list, determination and confidence. Stop berating yourself and start remembering how you can feel. You can do it. It’s time to get back to healthy. It’s time to get back to pride. It’s time to get back to confidence.

I’ve got you. If you need me, I’m here. Trust in that. 100%. I’m here.

6 Ways to Help You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

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Change doesn’t happen unless you do. How many times have you heard that?

Or, change happens outside your comfort zone. How about that one? You’ve heard that one, right?

And, as much as we know it, acknowledge it and “like” all the quotes and memes on Facebook about it, change and being outside your comfort zone is hard. It’s really hard. But, there will be a time in your life when you’ll have to accept that something’s gotta give and you’re going to need to step out of your bubble and go way past your comfort zone.

The power of letting go and moving yourself toward your goals is yours. It’s yours if you choose to dig in, step out and expose your vulnerabilities. You need to respect your limitations but push your boundaries and your comfort zone.

Think of your comfort zone like a balloon. You can expand it by putting more into it and you can shrink it by giving up and letting go. You can also pop it if you push too far. The further you try to push yourself out of your comfort zone, the harder it is. But it’s okay. You’re supposed to push. You’re supposed to constantly expand. Trust me. [Read more…] about 6 Ways to Help You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

How to Lose Weight & The Number 1 Reason You’re Not Losing It

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I’m not about to blow your mind with the “secret to magic weight loss”. I have no magic pill, potion or workout that will instantaneously transform you and make you 20lbs lighter. What I am going to share with you is that there is one thing you’re probably not doing that studies (scholarly, smartypants research studies) have proven to be the most powerful predictor of weight loss. And you’re most likely not doing it.

This article is not written to pressure you to lose weight. This article is written to pressure you to start fueling your body with the healthy food it needs to function, and function well. I’m not even sure about using the word “pressure”, I don’t want you to feel pressured. I simply want you to start feeling good about your body, your mind and your soul. And, I fully believe the way you move your body and the way you fuel your body affect the way you live your life every single day.

Before I tell you the number one reason you’re probably not losing weight, we need to get the basics down.

The Basics:

1) Move your freakin’ body. Firstly, you need to move. You need to sweat, drip and be sore. You need to push yourself. You need to workout. The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology recommends being physically active for 60 minutes per day, 7 days a week.  Read that again, please. 60 minutes per day, 7 days a week. That doesn’t mean working out every day, that simply means moving your body for one hour per day throughout your day. Walk to the park, take the stairs, play tag with your kids. Whatever you choose…but move it or lose it, party people.

2) Stop putting s**t in your mouth. Fuel your body with the good stuff. That means fruit, vegetables, protein, good fats, water (not wine…le sigh)! If you’re not sure how to do that find a program that can help educate you. Don’t find a DIET, find a way to learn how to fuel your body. You need to learn how and why you need to be eating the way they teach and then follow through. Your body is meant to feel fantastic, so why doesn’t it? Find out. Personally, I think you should check out Hot Mama’s Body Smarts program. It’s 12 weeks of fitness and nutrition education and it can change your life.

Okay, the basics are…well, pretty basic: move your body and eat well. So, what’s the number one predictor of weight loss, you ask? [Read more…] about How to Lose Weight & The Number 1 Reason You’re Not Losing It

The 5 Most Important Things You NEED to Bring to Your Workouts

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We’ve just launched a contest with Hot Mama Health & Fitness called Rock Your Routine. We’re trying to encourage people to schedule their workouts and stick to them for 6 weeks. You pledge $25 and commit to at least 3, 30-minute workouts per week for 6 weeks. Meet the challenge and you get your money back, receive a “I Rocked My Routine” tank AND get entered to win $500.

Anywho…that’s not what this post is about. BUT…it did get me thinking about what it takes to commit to fitness and to getting through your workouts. It got me thinking about what you need to bring to each workout. No, I’m not talking about clothing (though you should definitely wear that), running shoes (also important), headbands, earbuds, music, etc. No, I’m not talking about any of that. I’m talking about what YOU need to bring to EACH workout, internally.

Inside you. Not the external stuff. I’m talking about the mental grit.

Here’s my list of 5 things you need to bring to each workout and to each fitness program you begin:

1) Motivation. Now, I’m not saying every day you’re going to be the most motivated person out there. That every day you’re going to shout “I’m soooo motivated to get this workout done!”. I’m amazing! No, I know and respect the fact that some days you’re going to look lovingly at your couch and think about saying “I’ll go tomorrow”, but the key is to dig deep and remember your goals. Think about what motivated you in the first place. Put it at the forefront of your mind and let that motivation drag you out the door and to your workout. No motivation? You’re not going to follow through. So, every workout remember the “thing” that is motivating you to get sweaty. Let that “thing” be constantly in your mind. Allow your motivation to…well…motivate you to get your buns moving.

2) Determination. You’re going to need determination to get through each workout. Oh yes you will. Why? Because if you’re challenging yourself the way you should be challenging yourself during your workouts there is going to come a time when you’ll think “Yeah, okay…that’s good enough. I don’t need to go further”. Know what? You do. You’re going to need your determination to push you through that workout and finish strong. You need to be determined to not quit, to push harder, to dig deeper. No determination? No growth. Trust me.

3) Confidence. Be confident when you’re going through your workout. No more negative self talk. No more doubting yourself. No more pretending you don’t know what you’re doing. Big breath in, shoulders back, chin up, walk into your workout with confidence. Tell yourself that you will confidently complete each workout. You got this. You’re getting stronger with each workout. BAM! Confidence is key.

4) Stick-to-itiveness. As I mentioned before, in each workout or in each fitness program there’s going to be a time you’re going to want to quit. It’s going to take your stick-to-itiveness to bash it out, complete the workout and finish the program you’re currently going through. You’re going to have to suck it up and get it done. You don’t quit. YOU STICK. You’ve come this far, Mama, why the heck quit now? Stick and commit. Commit and stick. Ain’t nothing gonna break your stride (I desperately hope you get that song in your head as it’s in mine now). Stick it out. Work it out. You need to bring that to every workout. You finish each workout strong and you get strong, that’s how it works.

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5) Humor. For goodness sake, fitness should be fun! Laugh, tease, make fun of yourself. Love yourself. Working out doesn’t have to always be uber serious. Joke with your friends and have a laugh. If you’re by yourself, be light and be silly. Unless you’re an athlete training hard for a competition…lighten up, party people. It’s just fitness. Make a mistake? Laugh. Then get back to work. Have no idea what you’re doing? Laugh…then ask someone for help. Bring humor and fun to your workouts and you’ll be way more likely to look forward to each and every one.

There you have. The five things you absolutely need to bring to each workout. If you miss even one of these “things”, you’re going to wimp out of your workout and not commit and finish your fitness program.