Watch Video (02:52) Do you know what works for you?  I thought I did. At 5’3” with a medium frame, most weight-loss calculators told me to drop to 1200 calories and get some exercise. To lose my weight, I stuck to 1200 low-fat calories.  If I increased to 1300-1400 even one day, I wouldn’t lose … Read more

I am terrible at fulfilling inner expectations.  If I said I would do something with or for you, I’d do it if it killed me, but something for myself?  Pfft.  Maybe in spurts, but I could not maintain inner expectations long-term. To break my Diet Yo-Yo and keep that resolution, I had to work on … Read more

How are those resolutions going?  Still at it?  Well done.  Keep doing what you’re doing. Abandoned already?  Okay, it happens.  Shall we start again?  They never say you only get one shot at keeping a resolution.  In my book, What’s Really Eating You: Overcome the Triggers of Comfort Eating, I have a full chapter devoted … Read more

Resolutions can be great, but resolving the issues driving those behaviors we resolve to change will improve our success. So what do you want?  What parts of yourself do you want to cultivate in the year ahead to cultivate your truest self? The Old Part of that is letting go of the old – all … Read more

“And the Soul Felt Its Worth” It’s a line from my favourite Christmas carol, O Holy Night.  A number of years ago, someone pointed out this line that I’d sung for years but hadn’t registered — and every day in my counseling and coaching practice, I see the epidemic of the low value we place … Read more

Catching the spirit? December is so full of joy and laughter and celebrating.  With the twinkling lights and parties and well-wishes and displays, it’s a festive atmosphere, and that’s really lovely.   With such focus on family and holiday traditions, it can also be tough for those missing someone they love or longing for something.  Add … Read more

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” and “It’s that time of year when the world says hello” – so the songs go.   Twinkling lights and displays of “Peace on Earth” fill the season of celebration, and maybe we are kinder and more giving to others, which is lovely.  At the same time, we … Read more

Many traditions have a holiday this month: the beginning of winter when our days begin to lengthen again, Buddhism’s Bodhi Day of Enlightenment, Hanukkah, Christmas both spiritual and secular, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice and Yule, and Watchnight before the New Year, and probably more than a few not here listed. The common theme is HOPE. How … Read more

The U. S. Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, beginning the five-week food orgy that takes us to the New Year.  Have you noticed we don’t talk about gaining an average of 7-10 pounds through the various holidays between May and September?  They aren’t really about food in the same way, are they?  They have that … Read more