Your Healthy Life Made Easy!™

Is Being Overweight Your Weight Destiny?

Do you think that because “fat genes” run in the family that being overweight is your weight destiny? 

I definitely relate to this feeling as overweight/obesity runs in my family. I grew up with lots of pressure thinking the cards in the deck were stacked against me. And many of my weight loss coaching clients come to me in despair wanting to lose weight, but believe they are fighting a losing battle because they have fat genes (and fat jeans). But when you study the research, there’s lots of good news when it comes to genetics and your weight and health.

The International Journal of Obesity did a study using twins. One twin was labeled the "gym rat" and worked out regularly, and the other twin was the "lazy twin". After 30 years, the scientists compared the gym rat and lazy twins and found that the gym rat had gained nearly 12 pounds less, and had a waist that was over 3 inches smaller, than the lazy twin.

Governor Christie Lap-Band Surgery - Was It The Right Weight Loss Move?

It hasn't been a secret that Governor Christie could stand to lose a few pounds, but what was secret until just a couple of days ago, was that he underwent Lap-Band surgery in February to try and address his weight problem. 

But was it the right weight loss move? 

A bariatric surgeon quoted in an article in the May 8th USA Today seems to think so saying he was "thrilled that Christie sought out effective treatment for his condition." Of course he did, he's a weight loss surgeon! 

So here's my two cents.  On the plus side (pun intended), I think it's a positive when anyone who is overweight decides that they are ready to do something about it.  We also don't know how dire the situation was for Governor Christie in terms of the medical urgency of losing weight, so it may have been something he had to

 

How To Get Motivated To Exercise When You Don't Feel Like Exercising

Even the most dedicated exercisers have them--those days when you just don't feel like exercising.  Your "get-up-and-go" simply "got-up-and-went" as they say.  Well no worries, it's perfectly normal.  But knowing that, how do you get motivated to exercise when you really feel more like lounging on the sofa?

 

1.  Decide If The Reason Why You Don't Want To Exercise That Day Truly Has Merit 

 

A legitimate reason to skip the exercise that day is you are running fever, and summoning up the energy to walk across the floor would kill you.  A paper cut is not good enough. 

 

Okay, that's a little extreme but you get the idea.  You have to differentiate between feeling lazy and truly having a good reason to skip exercise.  If you carefully look at your reason(s) why you don't want to work out, you may just find that they are not good enough and you'll get off your duff and get moving.

Weight Loss Secrets Revealed for the Happiest, Healthiest You! - New Book

Weight loss success happens when you know the secrets to losing weight!  That's why I put together my top ways to lose weight healthfully, based on my own experience, in my newest Amazon Kindle® Bestselling book Weight Loss Secrets Revealed for the Happiest, Healthiest You!--the first book in my Your Healthy Life Made Easy!™ book series. 

These are the same weight loss secrets that led to my own successful 48-pound healthy weight loss  where I went from size 14 to rocking size 6 jeans.  And, more importantly, I kept the weight off! And you can do it too because I’m all about making your healthy life easy!

Check out what people are saying about Weight Loss Secrets Revealed for the Happiest, Healthiest You!

    "Melanie's book is very well put-together. I love how her thoughts were organized, and she structured the book in an easy to understand fashion. She gave a lot of value, which in turn lets you know that your investment (in yourself) would be well respected. The bullet points were easy to help you identity 'problem' areas in your life, and correct in appropriate areas. I highly recommend Melanie Jordan as a weight loss coach!"--Tyrie W., CT

    "This book is an awesome resource for anyone who has struggled to lose weight and keep it off in the past. I love the fact that the author gives her own testimonial of how she lost weight and kept it off using the methods in this book. She also is a Certified Wellness Coach, helping people lose weight everyday which gave me added confidence in buying this book. This isn't a crazy diet book promising that you will lose 50 pounds in 10 days. Melanie Jordan communicates very effectively the common mistakes and myths people have regarding losing weight and also, if done correctly, how you can successfully keep it off for good! A great resource that I will keep in my Kindle Library for years to come!--Dawn Calvert 

 

7 Snacks for Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance

Think you're supposed to cut out snacks when you're trying to lose weight or keep the weight off to save some calories?  Uh-uh, you need snacks.  No, not loaded nachos or king-size candy-bars, we're talking nutritious snacks.

Why do you need snacks for weight loss or weight maintenance? 

• They give you the fuel you need to work out or recover post-workout
• They keep your blood sugar on an even keel
• They stop you from eating junk and making poor choices when you get over-hungry
• They stop you from overeating when you are "starving"

So here are my favorite snacks for weight loss, or when you're looking to keep weight off (weight maintenance):

  1.  An Organic Apple, Nuts and Low-Fat Cheese 

I always choose organic apples because they are one of the fruits that has a high pesticide residue.  The nuts can be any healthy nut of your choice--I especially like to mix pistachios and cashews in a 1-ounce or half-ounce portion (use a digital kitchen scale to measure).  The cheese is usually 1-2 low fat mozzarella sticks although I also use low-fat swiss at times. Whatever you choose just make sure it's low fat or fat free.

This power combo of protein, healthy fat and the fiber of the apple will sustain you for quite awhile and is between 200 - 350 calories with 12-18 grams of hunger-stopping protein.  This also makes a great light meal.

2.  Quaker Oatmeal Squares 

This is one of my favorite grab and go snacks.  Quaker Oatmeal Squares Honey Nut is my personal flavor of choice and each 1 cup serving is 210 calories, 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.  I keep packets pre-portioned in snack-size Ziploc bags in my gym bag and ready to grab out of my pantry anytime.  Again, use a digital kitchen scale for accurate measurement.

Of course, you can come up with your own favorite snack cereal.  Just look for one that has a good amount of protein and fiber, is low fat and doesn't have too much sugar.

Weight Loss - Thinking About a Quick Weight Loss Fix?

When it comes to weight loss, as it is with many things in life, the focus tends to be on a quick fix solution regardless of the consequences.  Pick up any magazine--even the ones that claim to be about health--and you'll see ads for fat burners, weight loss supplements, diets that have you eat only food that is purple (yes, I made that one up), you name it.  And too many people fall for these quick fixes. 

I have students in every one of the Zumba classes I teach who attend class faithfully week after week, who after nearly every class ask me "how come I'm not getting rid of this (pointing to her gut)" followed by "I'm thinking I should try that Raspberry Ketone stuff" or "I'm thinking of going on a juice cleanse" or "maybe I should start using those HCG drops" (fill in the blank for any fad diet you like here).

My Zumba students are not alone in wanting a quick weight loss fix.  We don't gain weight overnight, but we expect it to come off overnight!  And we've all done it--yes, as a nervous bride- 

Digital Kitchen Scale - This Scale Is Your Weight Loss Friend

Think the scale is your enemy in your weight loss battle?  Not when it's a digital kitchen scale! 

One of the biggest mistakes that people who are trying to lose weight make is that their portion sizes are off.  Even if you're eating a healthy food, if you eat too much of it, you're throwing off your daily calorie count without even realizing it and sabotaging your diet. 

It's really easy to overeat foods like cereal, nuts, pasta and more if you're not careful, and it can make all the difference when you're on your body weight scale.

If a food item is not individually pre-packaged, the only way to be sure you're getting the right portion is to measure it.  I've used measuring cups and spoons, as well as an inexpensive manual diet scale with the little cup on it that looks like an old-fashioned postage scale.  But I've always wanted a digital kitchen scale so I could accurately and easily measure out my food portions.

Why New Year's Resolutions Don't Work

It's January 13th, do you know where your New Year's Resolutions are?

You got ready for 2013 by swearing you were going to lose weight and make it a healthy one, yet 2 weeks in if you're reading this, there's a pretty good chance that you've already thrown in the towel.  So why is it that New Year's Resolutions generally seem not to work?  And, more importantly, what can we do about it? 

There's something about the prospect of a new year and starting with a clean slate that makes it hard to resist making a New Year's Resolution and swearing you're going to turn over a new leaf.  And it's not necessarily a bad thing to stop and take a good hard look at where you are with your healthy habits and weight loss at a logical point and promise to do better.

 

Why I Became A Certified Wellness Coach

I truly believe that most people already know everything they need to know about being healthy. 

They know if they eat a triple bacon cheeseburger it's not health food. 

They know that having a gym membership and never setting foot in the place is not exercising.

They know if they can't zip up their jeans that they need to lose some weight.

They know that burning the candle at both ends and finally snapping the darn candle in two out of frustration--is not managing their stress.

So if everyone knows so much, why are we as a nation getting fatter, more sedentary and more stressed out?