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Category Archives: Lose Weight Fast
Diet App MyNetDiary Heads into the Holiday Season with New Diet Plans and Recipes – PRNewswire
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:59 pm
NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Top-rated weight loss and nutrition app MyNetDiary is currently launching several advances for Fall 2020. New offerings include keto-, low-carb-focused and Mediterranean diets and functionality, along with hundreds of Premium Recipes. Users of different lifestyles can choose from a variety of diets based on their preferences and further customize diet and tracking options from measuring carb and protein intake to calorie distribution and macronutrient targets. For each diet, the app provides premium features, including personalized guidance and feedback, access to diet libraries, extensive nutritional information and advice developed by registered dietitians. For time-pressured people, the new premium recipes are fast and easy with the majority clocking in at about 20 minutes of preparation and cooking time. As a response to current diet trends, MyNetDiary will also be rolling out vegetarian, vegan, low-fat and intermittent fasting plans and recipes later this fall.
With the holiday season on the horizon, many users, including an uptick in younger consumers, are turning to tech to track their way to fitness, getting into shape for fall and beyond. MyNetDiary has seen an increase in app engagement during COVID-19, as stress, emotional eating and working from home highlight the need for customizable, DIY weight-loss and weight-management solutions.
"The coronavirus has been reshaping how consumers eat, shop, pursue physical fitness and seek out expert nutritional advice," says MyNetDiary CEO and founder Sergey Oreshko. "Our goal from day one was to build the most comprehensive diet app. It's more important than ever to empower our users with the ability to customize their diet plans and provide them with the knowledge and support they need to look and feel their best."
Launched in 2007, MyNetDiary is one of the original online and mobile (iOS, Android) calorie and exercise trackers with over 11.5 million members worldwide. Focus on easy customization, data-backed advice, an interactive community and delicious recipes helps members turn good intentions into long-lasting, positive change. The app covers all aspects of following a diet, from planning to tracking and results analysis. By offering healthy and scientifically-proven approaches to weight loss, MyNetDiary's average active member loses 1.4 pounds a week.
While core functions such as calorie counting, daily analysis and tips from a top-level team of registered dietitians are available for free, Premium membership, which can be activated for $8.99 per month or $59.99 per year, features wearable tracker integrations along with personalized popular diets and hundreds of recipes.
MyNetDiary's food catalogue offers a complete and up-to-date nutrition database, with over 1,000 foods added or updated daily. MyNetDiary also maintains a growing library of articles written by their team of registered dieticians, featuring diet-specific advice and guidance.
For more information visit:
MyNetDiary http://www.mynetdiary.com
MyNetDiary Blog - http://www.mynetdiary.com/blog.html
MyNetDiary on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/mynetdiary
SOURCE MyNetDiary
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Diet App MyNetDiary Heads into the Holiday Season with New Diet Plans and Recipes - PRNewswire
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Why there’s zero reason to lose faith in Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee Vols – atozsportsnashville.com
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:59 pm
Saturdays loss to Georgia was a tough one to swallow for Tennessee Vols fans.
Tennessee recovered a fumble in the end-zone on Georgias opening drive. And the Vols led 21-17 at halftime.
For a couple of hours, it really felt like UT was going to pull off the upset in Athens and give Jeremy Pruitt the biggest win of his career.
But everything fell apart in the second half. The offensive line looked overmatched. Jarrett Guarantano looked like the JG weve all come to know over the last few years. And the defense was on the field way too much.
It was a disastrous second half that made it clear that Tennessee is not ready to compete for SEC championships.
But while its obvious the Vols still have a long way to go before theyre going to be a threat to win the SEC East, I still dont think theres any reason to doubt Pruitt and the job hes doing at Tennessee.
Pruitt is trying to build something sustainable in Knoxville. Hes not taking shortcuts (you know, like Butch Jones did).
Its kind of like a diet. You can crash diet and lose weight fast. Only to quickly regain the weight you lost and then some. Or you can change your lifestyle completely and achieve sustainable weight loss. It takes longer, but the results last.
Thats what Pruitt is doing at UT.
Its similar to what Dabo Swinney did at Clemson.
It took Swinney a while to get over the hump. In his third year, he went 6-7. Then for the next couple of years, Swinney averaged 10 or 11 wins a year. But he could never win the big one.
In 2013, for example, Clemson was cruising on their way to an undefeated season. They hosted No. 5 Florida State on a Saturday night and got absolutely dominated. The Tigers lost 51-14 in front of their home crowd, ending their national title hopes.
This was the narrative surrounding Swinney until 2015 when the Tigers finally reached the championship game. In 2016, Clemson finally won it all.
It took Swinney eight seasons to finally breakthrough. And since then, Clemson has been among the elite programs in college football.
And thats because Swinney didnt take shortcuts. He built a program that is going to have continued success because it was built the right way.
Thats what Pruitt is doing in Tennessee.
I think we saw last year after the losses to Georgia State and BYU that a Pruitt-led Vols team isnt going to lay down. Theyre not going to give up.
If anything, the loss to Georgia on Saturday will make Tennessee a better team.
I know its frustrating for fans to watch UT miss out on winning the big game. But would you rather see an upset win every now and then, or a program thats goes through some growing pains but ultimately has staying power in the SEC?
Be patient. Tennessee is still on the right path.
Featured image via Tennessee Athletic Communications
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Using the Pandemic as an Opportunity to Lose Weight and Get in Shape – The New York Times
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:57 pm
It also helped that she was no longer able to go out for meals and had to cook at home, where she prepared healthy meals for herself, like chicken, fish and salads. Rather than vodka on the rocks, her previous cocktail of choice, she diluted her vodka with mineral water and a splash of cranberry juice. Quarantine gave me time to be creative with the meals I was eating, she said.
Another reason many people gained weight is that they stopped planning their meals in advance. Without planning ahead, they would just grab whatever was available.
Before shelter in place they would prep their meals and sort of had a plan, said Dr. Rami Bailony, the co-founder and chief executive of Enara Health, a digital membership weight loss clinic. Once Covid hit they thought they could cook something up that was healthy. But once youre thinking about eating in the moment you tend to go with whats expedient.
When the pandemic started, Mindy Bachrach, 58, a home health occupational therapist in Henderson, Nev., soothed herself with sugary and high fat foods. As an essential worker, she was working pretty much all of her waking hours. I have a weird job, I eat in my car all the time, she said. If I dont prepare very carefully, I end up getting fast food, which I dont even like.
After two weeks, her pants were tighter. As someone who had lost and regained dozens of pounds in her life, she panicked. I decided I had to do something, she said. If I didnt, things were going to get out of control.
She went on the Whole 30 plan, which eliminates processed foods, sugar and sugar substitutes, alcohol, grains, dairy and most legumes. She also stopped weighing herself. I wanted the focus to be on how foods made me feel and not weight loss itself, she said. Thirty days later, she stepped on the scale and was down 20 pounds.
Randy Garcia, 42, of Dallas, has lost 104 pounds since July, 2019, with the help of Enara, which connects members with a doctor, dietitian and exercise coach and costs $400 a month.
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Using the Pandemic as an Opportunity to Lose Weight and Get in Shape - The New York Times
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Weight loss story: ‘I lost 21 kilos in just 4 months without hitting the gym!’ – Times of India
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:57 pm
When 31-year-old Mahaveer realised that he had to get back in shape and shed all the excess kilos for the sake of his family, there was no looking back! Without the help of fad diets or gymming, he lost a massive 21 kilos in a span of just four months. Read on. Name: Mahaveer JainOccupation: EntrepreneurAge: 31 years Height: 5 feet 5 inches
City: Bengaluru
Highest weight recorded: 103 kg
Weight lost: 21 kgDuration it took me to lose weight: 4 months
The turning point: I had tried a lot of things over the years to lose weight and get back in shape, but nothing really worked for me. I was suffering from a variety of medical issues like high blood pressure, high sugar, high cholesterol levels and migraine. I also had weak immunity because of all the extra kilos. However, when in April 2020 my second child was born, I realised that I needed to live a long and healthy life to see my kids and wife happy. Hence, that was the day I decided to lose weight and get back in shape and with the support of my parents, my brothers and my wife, I was able to do it.
My breakfast: I choose anything from a bowl of sprouts, salad, a portion of fruits, poha, idli, dosa etc. I also have a cup of green tea.
My lunch: 2 chapattis with green vegetables
My dinner: I choose anything from curry and brown rice, vegetable sandwich, a bowl of soup etc.
Pre-workout meal: A cup of black coffee
Post-workout meal: My breakfast
I indulge in: I eat Idly Dosa Pulav from my favourite restaurant on my cheat days!My workout: I love trying new things, so my workout routine wasn't fixed. I do everything from walking, jogging, cycling to climbing the stairs. Low-calorie recipes I swear by: I did not go for any fad diets, rather stuck to homemade food. I drastically cut down on my sugar intake and used jaggery instead. I made sure not to skip meals to stay hungry to lose weight.
Fitness secrets I unveiled: I have realised that nothing matters more in life than staying healthy and fit. It took me 31 years for sure, but the realisation will stay with me for a lifetime. How do I stay motivated? Now, since all my medial parameters are under control (sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol etc.), it keeps me motivated to stay healthy and fit.
How do you ensure you dont lose focus? A lot of people got inspired seeing me lose weight which is a great feeling in itself and keeps you focused.
Whats the most difficult part of being overweight? When you are overweight, every little thing is really difficult. While I never used to show it to anyone, but I faced several difficulties when I was unfit. For example, I used to get exhausted after playing with my kids for some time and climbing even two flights of stairs was a task for me.
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Weight loss story: 'I lost 21 kilos in just 4 months without hitting the gym!' - Times of India
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Study finds that intermittent fasting is not effective for weight loss – Boing Boing
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:57 pm
I've been skipping breakfast for the last six months or so. I've lost a lot of weight, but I've also been avoiding carbs so I don't really know why I lost weight.
I just came across this study published in JAMA Internal Medicine that found that intermittent fasting, on its own, doesn't help with weight loss.
In this prospective randomized clinical trial that included 116 adults with overweight or obesity, time-restricted eating was associated with a modest decrease (1.17%) in weight that was not significantly different from the decrease in the control group (0.75%).
Participants were randomized such that the consistent meal timing (CMT) group was instructed to eat 3 structured meals per day, and the time-restricted eating (TRE) group was instructed to eatad libitumfrom 12:00pmuntil 8:00pmand completely abstain from caloric intake from 8:00pmuntil 12:00pmthe following day
Time-restricted eating, in the absence of other interventions, is not more effective in weight loss than eating throughout the day.
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Study finds that intermittent fasting is not effective for weight loss - Boing Boing
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UAE weight-loss: ‘How I lost 26kg in one year without going to a gym’ – Gulf News
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:57 pm
Veena before (left) and after Image Credit: Supplied
Its easy to fall into the well of self-deprecation when others validate your worst thoughts. I used to think others called me fat because I was fat, recalls Veena B.Nair. The mother-of-two found herself agreeing with body-shamers more and more as she hit 90kg.
Then when she decided to stop working in Dubai and focus on a being a homemaker in 2018, she also resolved to make a change. I was just trying my own thing. I was going through videos etc. and basically they all spoke about reducing carbs. I have purely focused on [food to lose weight], she says.
She explains that she can spilt her weight-loss journey into three stages. In the first and second stages the self-confessed foodie stopped eating from restaurants. She stopped eating non-vegetarian food and she cut down on her portion sizes. Instead of 4 chappatis [flat bread]that I was eating I would eat 1.5, she explains.
Every week Nair would check her weight. And every time there was a drop in numbers shed celebrate. The feeling that overtook her was So I can reduce [weight too].
She also began to drink more and more water. Once I started drinking water I could see the results. I was drinking 3 litres of water [every day] for 3 months, she explains. She drank water before meals to curb appetite, she drank water when she was bored; she drank water through the day.
She said goodbye to her favourite treats from the bakery or just hot off the wok.
As for exercise, she says laughing: Exercise I didnt do much - only housework. And sometimes I will do walking or something, but it was not a factor at all - I was lazy to do [any more exercise].
At the end of three months, she lost 15kg.
Early days
Nair has always loved her food, but the weight began to pile on soon after puberty. She has PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), a common hormonal issue, that can lead to weight gain. Her menstrual cycle was irregular it would come once every 45 days or so, she recalls. Doctors told her to lose weight and people used to make fun like, you are growing size wise not height wise, she says.
She had tried over the years to kill the kilos but nothing had worked and for each child she had, she gained 10kg.
So it was heartening for her to see the change from phase one It was very motivational for me to see my looks change, she says. And the reception this got was even more gratifying.
She happily headed into stage 2, where she increased her food intake, still boycotting all meat products and keeping away from food from outside.
Over the next three months, she lost 5 more kilos. Her menstrual cycle became regular and she began to see a change in herself.
Finally, in stage three she went back to eating non-vegetarian food. By now Nair had honed her skill keeping portion sizes small and limiting her intake of unhealthy goods. She was also determined to lose weight.
She lost, in another 6 months, another 6 kilos.
After this giant drop, she began to draw concern for being too thin and as a result began to let her hair down, ending 2019 4kg heavier. Shes maintained this new goal weight - 68- since.
Complications
Thats not to say there werent any hiccups. One problem I faced later on was I started feeling my skin is having some problem. Like that time I went to a dermatologist. She said its ok, because you have reduced so much of weight, maybe because of that. I was having hair fall and skin issues, she says. She hadnt been on supplements of any sort. But this has since balanced out.
Its easy to fall into the well of self-loathing when others give voice to your worst thoughts. But grit will always beat the nexus of negativity. And when it does, the butterfly will emerge.
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UAE weight-loss: 'How I lost 26kg in one year without going to a gym' - Gulf News
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Walking At This Time Can Help You Lose More Weight – Yahoo Canada Shine On
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:57 pm
Getting your steps in each day provides many benefits, mentally and physically. While any movement throughout the day, walking or otherwise, can be helpful for weight loss, there is research that suggests walking after a meal may provide additional benefits. Let's take a look at how exercise can influence weight loss, how much you need to walk each day, how to maximize the benefits of exercise, and why this is ultimately the best time to walk to lose weight. And for more healthy tips, be sure to check out our list of 21 Best Healthy Cooking Hacks of All Time.
We each have a base amount of calories we burn in a day. This is often referred to as your resting metabolism, and while that number stays relatively stable, the amount of movement we do each day through walking around the house, running errands, and intentional exercise can significantly increase your total calorie burn.
Weight loss is not always a straightforward calorie equation, but energy in versus energy out plays a major role in weight loss. Adding more movement each day is likely to be helpful in that calorie equation and aid in a weight loss goal.
Additionally, exercise can help manage blood sugar levels, another benefit aiding in weight loss. A 2016 study found walking for 10 minutes after each meal helps to lower blood sugar levels in those with Type 2 diabetes more than walking for 30 consecutive minutes at any other time throughout the day. While this study focused on those with diabetes, it is reasonable to expect similar outcomes in those with prediabetes, according to this study from 2013.
What is the mechanism behind exercise helping manage blood sugar levels? It is pretty simple. As your heart rate increases during moderate-intensity exercise, your muscles start to prefer carbohydrate, or sugar, as a primary energy source. When you eat carbohydrates at a meal, your blood sugar naturally starts to rise and it is the job of insulin to help pull that sugar out of the blood and deliver it to the different tissues of the body. Walking increases the amount of sugar your muscles require and helps to make use of the excess sugar that may be in your bloodstream following a meal.
Managing blood sugar levels is extremely important for cardiovascular health and may also make weight loss easier. Post-meal exercise serves two major benefits for weight management: It increases calorie burn to encourage your body to use fat as an energy source, and it helps manage blood sugar levels that support overall health and alleviate the pancreas of additional work trying to manage blood sugar with insulin.
While there are many recommendations that exist for the amount and type of exercise you should be getting, the American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, like walking, each week. Walking just 21 minutes per day at a moderate speed may reduce the risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, which is especially important for the 34.5% all US adults who have prediabetes and can support better bone health and promote less weight gain.
Walking at any time during the day can be beneficial for physical and mental well-being, however, walking after meals may be particularly helpful for those with pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes as the increased movement is able to remove some of the excess sugar in the blood and put it to work in muscle tissue. For those without any health conditions who are aiming to lose weight or use exercise to prevent future health complications, walking can be a valuable component in your daily routine.
To get started today, here are30 Tips When You're Walking for Weight Loss.
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Walking At This Time Can Help You Lose More Weight - Yahoo Canada Shine On
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Gemma Collins looks slimmer than ever in pyjamas after 3st weight loss in Happy Monday snap – The Sun
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:57 pm
GEMMA Collins shows no signs of slowing down her weight loss journey as she dazzles in a pyjama set.
Theself-confessed diva, 39, looked slimmer than ever after dropping 3stone, as she tried to cheer up fans by wishing them a "magical Monday".
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Lying on a cream striped chaise, Gemma beamed towards the camera as she leaned her head on her hand.
Her wavy blonde locks rested on the shoulders of her bright blue hoodie and matching pyjama trouser set.
The statement PJs are part of her Gemma Collection clothing collection which she launched to cater to plus-size women.
Gemma captioned the post: "Wishing you all a BEAUTIFUL MAGICAL MONDAY .
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"Waiting till 6pm for announcements can make the day a little unsteady for us so sending lots of love !!!".
Gemma referred to the Prime Minster Boris Johnson's address to the nation today at 6pm announcing a new lockdown system that divides the country into different tiers.
The Essex lass has been on an impressive weight loss journey over the past year, which has seen her lose a whopping three stone.
Fans flocked to the comment section to praise Gemma on how well she's looking as one said:"You look amazing!"
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Another added: "Keep up the good work Gems"
And a third said: "You look absolutely amazing ."
The GC's weight loss journeyhas been credited to her following a range of hardcore diets and by using weight loss jabs.
The 250 shots act as an appetite suppressant and help the body turn stored fat into energy.
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Speaking on Instagram, the star opened up about her controversial way of losing weight and told fans: "They have transformed my whole life with regards to dieting."
But despite praising the product on her platform, Gemma was recentlyrapped for breaching ad rules by promoting the weight loss jab, after she didn't make it clear she was advertising it on her platform.
Gemma has treated herself to various other procedures since shedding the pounds, including ahydro oxygen facialback in August.
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'WE'RE STILL TOGETHER'Dominic West kisses wife for cameras after intimate Lily James pics
STAR ATTRACTIONThe secret - and shocking - celebrity hook-ups you'd forgotten all about
'much classier'Katie Price shows off dramatically short hair after cutting out extensions
HOLY SMOKESCan you spot the Hollywood heart-throb filming Batman with Robert Pattinson?
DER-ANGEDTowie's Harry Derbridge hits back at cruel trolls for 'piling on the pounds'
THEN AND NOWTowie fans stunned by how much Chloe Sims has changed since first appearance
Last week she got apainful "jawline tightening" treatment to make herself look permanently contoured.
She filmed herself getting the procedure and told fans: "Girls, if any of you are trying to contour your face, this is the best girl to do it. Ive got no filter, I've got nothing on my face."
The beautician explained: "Basically we are doing a jawline contouring and tightening treatment. There's no needles, it's literally done with a machine."
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Gemma Collins looks slimmer than ever in pyjamas after 3st weight loss in Happy Monday snap - The Sun
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Weight loss: Signs your workout is actually making you gain more weight – Times of India
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:57 pm
Exercise plays a crucial role in aiding weight loss. Choosing the right regime that actually helps you meet your goal and matches your requirement is imperative to losing weight and maintaining it in the long run. However, it can just so happen that you do everything right but still don't see the number on the weighing scale budge. Or even worse, you start to feel heavier than usual.
The 'wrong' kind of exercise, if not well-suited for your needs might just go against your goals and actually make you prone to putting on more weight. It could also be one of the reasons you are not seeing the results you imagined in the first place.
If you have been training for a while and not getting to the goal you wanted to be at, here are some signs your workout may not be the best for weight loss. Watch out for these:
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Weight loss: Signs your workout is actually making you gain more weight - Times of India
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This Clever Technique Will Help You Lose Weight and Stay Fit – Slate
Posted: October 13, 2020 at 6:57 pm
Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Ljupco/iStock/Getty Images Plus and stargatechris/iStock/Getty Images Plus.
John thinks he knows the formula for losing weight: increase his exercise and quit the peanut M&Ms. He has a strong incentive to get fitat 72 and about to retire, he wants not only to have more energy to play pickleball and travel, but also to reduce his blood pressure medication. But for some reason, John cant stay in the right headspace to actually make the change. On a recent episode of How To!, Katy Milkman, a behavioral economist at the University of Pennsylvania and host of the podcast Choiceology, shares the science behind why we hold ourselves back from making real change and, moreover, how we can engineer our way into healthier, happier lives. With the right set up, the most difficult thingslike losing weightmay be easier andmore enjoyable than we thought. This transcript has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Charles Duhigg: Katy, what was your path to studying how people change their behaviors?Katy Milkman: My passion was engineering, but I found myself outside of the classroom wondering about self-control problems that I had and that my friends had. I was always curiouswhy we can solve very sophisticated problems and build bridges effectively, but we cant solve our own very simple problems?
I had issues trying to get myself to the gym at the end of a long day. I was a very competitive tennis player in high school and college, but I quit the varsity tennis team halfway through college. I still really wanted to stay in shape, but I struggled to find ways to get myself to the gym at the end of a long day of classes because I was tired. All I really wanted to do was lie down on the couch and watch TV or curl up with a good book. I realized maybe I can solve both of these problems in the very same way. So I concocted a scheme where I allowed myself only to enjoy those kinds of indulgencesspecifically I got really into audio novelswhen I was exercising. I would come home from a long day and I would find myself looking forward to a workout because I was gonna get to find out what happens next in my latest novel. Time flew when I was at the gym. It was really fun to workout. I call that temptation bundling and Ive studied it and showed that its not just meit can be useful for other people as well.
Charles: John, what do you feel like youre struggling with the most when it comes to weight loss? Is there something you could apply this idea of temptation bundling to?
John: Right now I find that one of my challenges is my wife, my second marriage. With the pandemic, my wife has been cooking cakes, so Im not watching my meals and Im eating unhealthy snacks or too much or the wrong food. If theres sugary things in the house, then thats where I migrate. The other day, for instance, our daughter-in-law brought us food from the store and at the last minute my wife says, Oh, get a big jar of peanut M&Ms.
Charles: Oh no.
John: They sit there on the counter. Since last Saturday Ive done great because I visualized that my wife had sneezed in the container! I thought, Oh no way am I going to have a handful of those now. And then last night I just had to have a handful of peanut M&Ms. If they hadnt been there, I never wouldve thought of that.
Katy: Food is a tough one. When I use it in temptation bundling, its usually the temptation component. What you can do is find a way to ensure that for every meal you have options ready that you are going to enjoy even if they arent peanut M&Ms. Another big thing to think about is restricting your access to that unhealthy food. It sounds like your environment is filled with temptations if youve got these peanut M&Ms on the counter and your wife is baking cakes. I think you need to work with your wife on creating that environment in your home so that you purge the unhealthy snacks as much as possible or put them in a locked cabinet that shes got the combination for, so if she doesnt want to restrict herself, theres a way to restrict you at least.
Charles: If you went to your wife and you said, Honey, I love you. But I dont love the fact that there are cakes around me. Can we take all the sweets and put them in a locked cabinet? And you have the key. How do you think shed react to that?
John: In general, I think shed be supportive. We dated in high school, went our separate ways, then got back together 40 years later. In some ways, its a perpetual honeymoon, but in a couple of ways, there are some challenges in our relationship. Shes more in the camp of we are who we are and we cant change. And Im more in the camp of Oh, we can always change. Thats what life is all about. And we kind of butt heads over that sometimes. When it gets distilled down to talking about eating, if I want to pay a lot of attention to the food I eat, she sees it as obsessing. I know she feels hurt if I dont want to eat whatever she cooks, so I havent actually talked to her about some of these things. But I absolutely need to do that. I will actually. I will commit to doing that.
Get more expert tips from Charles Duhigg and his guests every week.
Charles: Katy, what John is saying makes sensethe things that we struggle with are so influenced by the people around us and in their attitudes to the change that were trying to create. What do we know about the science behind this?
Katy: Absolutely. Its so social. We have a lot of evidence supporting everything you just said the people around us are a huge contributor to our behavior. So if everybody around you starts eating more, youre much more likely to do the same and vice versa. John, if your wife decided she wanted to cut back, you would be likely to eat a little bit less and lose a little bit more. Trying to get on the same page is going to be really valuable for your success. With my dad, for example, Ive been very worried about his physical activity levels, so I convinced him to buy a Fitbit, which I also have. We have the ability to see each others stepsand he knows Im watching. In fact, he confessed to me that his steps werent uploading and he spent 2 hours on the phone with Fitbit support because he was so upset that I would think he hadnt walked enough that day.
Often a big opportunity is to figure out a third-party perspective on any kind of disagreement youre currently having with your partner. How would another person see this conflict and what would they think? This can help relieve some of the emotional tension. Maybe see if your wife would be open to thinking about your desire to lose weight from a third-party perspective. [Especially as you approach your retirement], this moment can feel like a breaking point from normal moments. Ive done research on the moments when people are more likely to try to make a change in their lives, and what weve found is the start of a new era, the start of your retirement years, the start of a new decade, even something as trivial as the start of a new week, help us step back and think big picture. What are our goals? That motivates us to start new projects and feel more separated from our past failings. For example, I had always wanted to write a book and just hadnt gotten up the nerve to do it. At the same time, my husband and I had been thinking about moving. We had a young son. We were ready to be out of an apartment and into a house. The day that we signed and became owners of a new house is the day that I sent out emails to agents and started the book-writing process. I just finished writing a book called How to Change. So the new house was the thing that pushed me over. It was a new era.
Charles: Okay, but what happens when the fresh start doesnt work so smoothly?
Katy: Yes, youre going to slip up. Nobodys perfect. One risk when you make plans to change like this is something called the what-the-hell effect. (I love that theres an academic term called the what-the-hell effect.) A challenge with this kind of rigid plan is youll never actually live up to all of your objectives. A big problem can be when you slip up saying, Oh, what the hell, I give up. If you have a plan for the day and you eat a cinnamon bun for breakfast because your wife just made a beautiful cinnamon bun, then you say, Oh, what the hell? Let me just have a steak and fries and pie for lunch. So when you have a plan you also have to think what will happen when you slip off track. What will you do? How will you get back on track? How will you forgive yourself? And how do you avoid slipping off track all the time and being too forgiving? Theres a sort of tightrope you have to walk. But if you can make progress for a month, even when you lose motivation little, you probably wont fall all the way off the wagon because you do build some habits. In my studies, about 30 percent of the behaviors we start doing for a month around, say, exercise, tend to stickeven if all of the tricks weve been using to put those good behaviors in place are pulled away. Habit can be really helpful.
Just one last thing to keep in mind is something called a commitment device. There are actually a couple of different websites you can use where you can put money down that youll forfeitor even send to a charity you hateif you fail to achieve some stated goal. Nike has made the Just Do It model such a part of our culture. But the research so consistently shows that its just not that easy. Our motivation does wax and wane. We need these systems. You have to recognize that it wont be easy to just do it. Willpower is hard. When you see that temptation, you reach for it. So the more you can do to structure the choices to help yourself, the better.
John: That might actually work. If I was going to commit $500 to Donald Trumps campaign, I think I would lose the weight in two days.
To hear Katy help John find the words to convince his wife to stop baking so many sweets, listen to the episode by clicking the player below or subscribing to How To! with Charles Duhigg wherever you get your podcasts.
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This Clever Technique Will Help You Lose Weight and Stay Fit - Slate
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