Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Do you have a policy with weight loss provisions?

I’ve begun asking my clients to write up a business plan for their health and well being. The idea caught on. People seem excited to think about what it would take for their businesses to thrive. It was only natural to ask them to apply the same principles to their weight loss plans.
Jeanne, who works for an insurance company wrote the following plan for herself. She called it:
“The Life Extension Company”
Here’s a copy of her policy:
Quality of Life Assurance Policy
Section 1, Assuring Agreement
In consideration of the efforts expended now by the Assured, the company agrees to accrue the resulting health benefits and hold them in trust for future use by the Assured. Said benefits will include but not be limited to increased mobility, flexibility, confidence and self esteem.
Section 2, Efforts to be expended


The Assured agrees to the following:
  • Lose 10% of current body weight by May 18, 2011.
  • Stretch for a minimum of five (5) minutes per day.
  • Take swimming classes a minimum of two (2) times per week.
  • Walk briskly a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes per day.
  • Avoid elevators and escalators in favor of stairs whenever possible or practical.
  • Focus on proper posture at all times.
  • Develop a strong core.
  • Sleep restfully for seven (7) to eight (8) hours per night.
  • Meditate on the benefits of following my weight loss plan once per day and when discouraged.
  • Pray mindfully for a minimum of two (2) times per week.
  • Re-read Judith Beck’s “Learn to Think Like a Thin Person” workbook.
  • Spend quality time with my cat Stella every day.
Section 3, Exclusions
This policy does not prevent loss or damage due to sudden and/or accidental occurrences including but not limited to:
  • Vehicular incidents
  • Onset of heretofore unknown illness(es)
  • Falling objects
  • Black Holes and the like
What does your life assurance policy say?
Ellen is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco and Redwood City, California. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporates the use of mindfulness into the treatment of depression, anxiety, and emotional overeating. She runs a holistic weight loss program called Center for Thoughtful Weight Loss, http://www.thoughtfulweightloss.com/. You can email Ellen at ellen@thoughtfulweightloss.com.I’ve begun asking my clients to write up a business plan for their health and well being. The idea caught on. People seem excited to think about what it would take for their businesses to thrive. It was only natural to ask them to apply the same principles to their weight loss plans.
Jeanne, who works for an insurance company wrote the following plan for herself. She called it:
“The Life Extension Company”
Here’s a copy of her policy:
Quality of Life Assurance Policy
Section 1, Assuring Agreement
In consideration of the efforts expended now by the Assured, the company agrees to accrue the resulting health benefits and hold them in trust for future use by the Assured. Said benefits will include but not be limited to increased mobility, flexibility, confidence and self esteem.
Section 2, Efforts to be expended
The Assured agrees to the following:
  • Lose 10% of current body weight by May 18, 2011.
  • Stretch for a minimum of five (5) minutes per day.
  • Take swimming classes a minimum of two (2) times per week.
  • Walk briskly a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes per day.
  • Avoid elevators and escalators in favor of stairs whenever possible or practical.
  • Focus on proper posture at all times.
  • Develop a strong core.
  • Sleep restfully for seven (7) to eight (8) hours per night.
  • Meditate on the benefits of following my weight loss plan once per day and when discouraged.
  • Pray mindfully for a minimum of two (2) times per week.
  • Re-read Judith Beck’s “Learn to Think Like a Thin Person” workbook.
  • Spend quality time with my cat Stella every day.
Section 3, Exclusions
This policy does not prevent loss or damage due to sudden and/or accidental occurrences including but not limited to:
  • Vehicular incidents
  • Onset of heretofore unknown illness(es)
  • Falling objects
  • Black Holes and the like
What does your life assurance policy say?
Ellen is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco and Redwood City, California. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporates the use of mindfulness into the treatment of depression, anxiety, and emotional overeating. She runs a holistic weight loss program called Center for Thoughtful Weight Loss, http://www.thoughtfulweightloss.com/. You can email Ellen at ellen@thoughtfulweightloss.com.I’ve begun asking my clients to write up a business plan for their health and well being. The idea caught on. People seem excited to think about what it would take for their businesses to thrive. It was only natural to ask them to apply the same principles to their weight loss plans.
Jeanne, who works for an insurance company wrote the following plan for herself. She called it:
“The Life Extension Company”
Here’s a copy of her policy:
Quality of Life Assurance Policy
Section 1, Assuring Agreement
In consideration of the efforts expended now by the Assured, the company agrees to accrue the resulting health benefits and hold them in trust for future use by the Assured. Said benefits will include but not be limited to increased mobility, flexibility, confidence and self esteem.
Section 2, Efforts to be expended
The Assured agrees to the following:
  • Lose 10% of current body weight by May 18, 2011.
  • Stretch for a minimum of five (5) minutes per day.
  • Take swimming classes a minimum of two (2) times per week.
  • Walk briskly a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes per day.
  • Avoid elevators and escalators in favor of stairs whenever possible or practical.
  • Focus on proper posture at all times.
  • Develop a strong core.
  • Sleep restfully for seven (7) to eight (8) hours per night.
  • Meditate on the benefits of following my weight loss plan once per day and when discouraged.
  • Pray mindfully for a minimum of two (2) times per week.
  • Re-read Judith Beck’s “Learn to Think Like a Thin Person” workbook.
  • Spend quality time with my cat Stella every day.
Section 3, Exclusions
This policy does not prevent loss or damage due to sudden and/or accidental occurrences including but not limited to:
  • Vehicular incidents
  • Onset of heretofore unknown illness(es)
  • Falling objects
  • Black Holes and the like
What does your life assurance policy say?
Ellen is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco and Redwood City, California. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporates the use of mindfulness into the treatment of depression, anxiety, and emotional overeating. She runs a holistic weight loss program called Center for Thoughtful Weight Loss, http://www.thoughtfulweightloss.com/. You can email Ellen at ellen@thoughtfulweightloss.com.

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