Lifestyle Makeover: REVAMP that MOTIVATION!

Sound familiar? Was this you?

It’s been nearly six months since we started a new year with the best of intentions to get back in shape and clean up our plates. Six months… do they feel more like six years?? Perhaps back in January you did have some success in jump-starting your health goals, but your enthusiasm has waned. This is TOTALLY NORMAL. Without the motivation to keep going, it’s not likely for anyone to keep on track. Don’t let me be misunderstood – motivation is not someone yelling at you to run yourself into the ground. It's about identifying some very good reasons to do something, and to light that up inside you.

What motivates you? What doesn’t? Today I’d like to offer you a few ways that help me keep motivated and be successful in accomplishing my goals...

A GLC Philosophy

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So perhaps you’ve attended some of our classes, perhaps you’ve had a private consultation with me – Chloe, RD – or, perhaps you have only checked in here once in a while to read my blog (Thank you! I appreciate it J). If simply the latter of the three is true, you might find yourself wondering a little about what all we stand for at the Good Life Center. Today, I’d like to take a little time to explain a part of what we advocate, an eating philosophy that supports our efforts in helping you achieve a healthy lifestyle. I’m talking about CLEAN EATING.

  



Front-of-the-Box Misconceptions Revealed



This term has become a bit of a “buzz-word” lately among wellness communities and with good reason! Today, our supermarkets are riddled with products that (to be honest) are not even real food! They are products of science, not nature, and they are injected with dyes and other chemicals not meant for the human body. If you can’t pronounce the words in the ingredient list, do you think your body really knows how to digest it? So this brings us to the concept of clean eating. Clean eating is all about choosing foods that are natural and wholesome – particularly foods that are free of chemicals, additives and preservatives, and devoid of refined, processed ingredients.

This eating style has some distinct benefits which include: advancing your chances of maintaining a healthy weight; gaining better control of blood sugar; and, improving blood pressure and cholesterol levels. There are some additional perks that come along too, like increased energy, clearer skin, improved sleep and enhanced clarity of mind. I’m intrigued – how about you?

Nutrition at Your Fingertips

Attention all smartphone users!

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics just released a great article highlighting different Consumer and Lifestyle Apps available to help you manage your health. Each are ranked and reviewed with categories including weight management, diabetes care, and eating gluten-free. Check ‘em out:

EatRight.org App Reviews

 Track your progress and empower yourself with increased self-awareness to carry you forward on your path to wellness!

Here’s to happy, healthy living,

Chloe RD & the GLC

GLC ANNOUNCEMENT!

Next Tuesday, January 24, 2012 we will be initializing a new promotional feature to help boost motivation…

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Starting January 24th through February 28th, the one lucky GLC participant to have the most significant improvement in body weight (percent weight change) in 5 weeks wins a prize! J The only rule is that you must check-in every week for a weigh-in and waist circumference measurement.

Come check out our next Cooking Class on January 24^th

to find out more and get started!

Happy goal setting,

Chloe RD and the GLC

P.S. By the way, the giveaway is MUCH better than a flimsy blue ribbon!

mo•ti•va•tion

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Per Merriam-Webster, motivation is:

1. The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.

2. The general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

In psychology, motivation is defined as the process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. It’s what causes us to act, whether it is getting a glass of water to reduce thirst or reading a book to gain knowledge. It involves the biological, emotional, social and cognitive forces that activate behavior. In everyday usage, the term motivation is frequently used to describe why a person does something.

In terms of weight-loss, motivation is the force that propels us to move forward on a positive track to better ourselves. It’s what gets you off the couch and to the gym. It’s the strength that helps us to say no to that brownie and yes to fresh fruits and vegetables.

During my research, I came across an article “How to Get the Motivation to Lose Weight,” by Joshua Wayne, MA, a Personal Development Coach and trained psychotherapist with an emphasis on weight loss motivation and mind/body wellness. This article really put some key concepts into perspective for me, in a clear and concise manner. In other words, I could not have said it better – so I won’t! Not only is this information helpful, but it’s structured to be the first step in a series of other articles on motivation, such as: sustaining motivation; small changes; plus, emotions and motivation. I may not agree with every sentence, but some had to be included in order to maintain the context. Follow the "read more" link below for the article content and information that I felt was most relevant for initializing that first spark:

The GLC Blog - Your New Social Network!

Hello and Happy 3rd day of 2012!

And it's a COLD day at that!! I want to make sure that you are all aware of how to use this blog to connect, not only with GLC and your dietitian, but also amongst each other for peer-based social support! At the top of this web page there's a bar in light-blue type with several options for you to click on:

• Home - takes you right back here!
• About Me - gives a brief description of me, the Registered Dietitian for GLC and a little about my history. My nutrition roots grow deep! J
• GLC Calendar - a monthly synopsis of what's happening at GLC regarding classes, Orientation and events to keep you in-the-loop.
• Ask the RD - gives instructions on how to get connected with me and with other GLC blog followers. *More on this below...
• GAIM - information for Glen Allen Internal Medicine.
• Contact Us - Our office address, phone/fax numbers and directions.

*Ask the RD - please follow the instructions listed on this link to get the most out of our blog! There are multiple options, based on your desired involvement. We created this website for YOU! So, it's only fair that you know where to go and what to do to make the most of your experience.

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What do you think of our blog thus far? 

More posts are coming and we hope to see you soon!

All the best,
Chloe RD & GLC